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Winneville water association tells county pipeline contractor damaged water, gas and phone lines; board agrees to follow up
Summary
A representative for the Winneville/Winneville-area water association told the Washington County Board of Supervisors that Precision Pipeline and subcontractors repeatedly damaged service and main water lines, a gas line and phone lines during work, and asked the board to use legal and engineering resources to hold contractors accountable. The board agreed to investigate and involve counsel and county engineers.
John, a representative of the Winneville water association, spent the largest portion of the meeting describing repeated damage to water service lines and mains tied to recent utility and pipeline work. He said crews for Precision Pipeline and multiple subcontractors broke lines—at times overnight—and that those incidents have left the association repeatedly repairing service interruptions and incurring costs.
“The first gas line they busted…they're not taking responsibility,” John said, recounting a text from an on‑site project engineer that suggested the water association would be charged if lines were not properly marked. He added that telephone lines and multiple water service lines were punctured, sometimes when the association’s crews were not on site.
Board members asked for details and staff produced contract pages John had provided. Attorney Griffin said contractor contracts and permit terms typically require contractors to locate and avoid existing facilities and that the county could compel corrective action through the project engineer or, if necessary, the state department of engineering services.
Supervisor comments focused on practical next steps: requesting the county engineer review the project records and fieldwork, having the county attorney contact the prime contractor’s counsel, and convening a follow‑up meeting next week with the water association, engineers and county counsel. Clay (road/roads staff) and planning staff said they would help document right-of-way and permit notification processes so residents and utilities receive advance notice of work.
John asked the board to consider whether the association’s engineer and counsel could be aided with county resources. Board members said they were willing to have the county attorney and the county’s engineer attempt to coordinate with the project’s engineer and the prime contractor to ensure contractors meet their responsibilities and to pursue remedies if they do not.
The board scheduled staff followup and agreed to meet with John and counsel next week to review the contracts and outstanding repairs. The meeting record shows the board instructed county staff and counsel to pursue engineering review and legal outreach to the contractor and project engineer, not to guarantee any particular remedy or payment.
Next steps: county attorney and county engineer to contact the project engineer and prime contractor; a follow-up meeting with the water association was proposed for next week to review obligations and outstanding damages.
