Committee advances $5.45 million engineering change order to stabilize Reek Creek and protect sewer lines

Mister Gordon told the Columbia County Public Works and Engineering Services Committee the county needs bank-hardening work along Reek Creek after recurring ‘‘flashiness’’ during rain events has eroded banks and exposed sewer lines, creating potential leaks. Gordon said staff completed a scoping phase with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and is ready to proceed into design work with Cranston Engineering.

‘‘That’s a cost of, $5,454,845 dollars,’’ Gordon said, and added the engineering work would be paid from the county’s renewal and extension line code. Gordon described constraints in some areas where sewer lines sit very close to homeowners’ yards, pools and sheds, saying the design must account for existing private improvements.

Committee members asked whether the erosion was storm-related. Gordon replied the issue is recurring ‘‘flashiness’’—rapid increases in flow when it rains—and said staff hopes the proposed bank-hardening will be a permanent solution in the affected reaches.

Member (S2) moved the item to the consent agenda and Chair (S1) acknowledged the motion; the transcript records placement to consent but does not contain a roll-call vote in the record provided.

The committee packet provided by staff (summarized during the meeting) included the year-to-date water and sewer construction report and a staff recommendation to approve the Cranston agreement amendment.

Next steps: the item was forwarded to the committee’s consent agenda for formal action by the full board.