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Scappoose authorizes up to $1.7M contract to complete well project after drilling setbacks
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Summary
Following contractor difficulties and complex geology, the council authorized City Manager Ben Bergener to contract with Carpenter Drilling LLC for completion of an alluvial well and a new basalt well, with a not-to-exceed limit of $1,700,000 and direction to pursue grants and other funding where possible.
The Scappoose City Council authorized City Manager Ben Bergener to contract with Carpenter Drilling LLC for completion of a water-well project, including an alluvial well and a new basalt well, with a not-to-exceed authorization of $1,700,000.
Public works staff and consultants said the project, begun as an exploratory basalt well, encountered deep basalt and unexpected thick silty‑clay layers that repeatedly caused the borehole to cave and hampered casing installation. Robin Cook, a hydrogeologist with GSI Water Solutions, said the team reached the top of the salt layer at roughly 810 feet and then faced significant caving and tooling problems; multiple drilling firms and methods were tried. Consultants presented three approaches: (1) drill a new larger-diameter borehole designed to reach basalt and complete a basalt well if suitable, (2) explore basalt through the existing borehole with smaller tooling to obtain data only, then backfill and construct an alluvial well, or (3) stop and backfill the current borehole and construct a redundant alluvial well in another location.
"If we don't do something different, we will run out of water," Public Works/City staff said when urging council to authorize further work to learn whether basalt can provide a long-term supply. Councilors asked about production guarantees, the probability of success, and funding sources. Staff noted that grant funds remain for part of the work but that drilling further into basalt could require city funds or loans; staff said they would pursue grants and low-interest loans where possible.
Councilor Holmes moved and the motion was seconded to authorize the contract with Carpenter Drilling LLC for completion of an alluvial and basalt well not to exceed $1.7 million. Council members discussed adding contingency authority to avoid costly standby time for contractors; supporters said that pre-authorizing contingency would allow staff to sign change orders without pausing the project. Opponents urged caution, suggested seeking more grant funding before committing the city's money, and described basalt exploration as a higher-risk "science experiment".
The council approved the authorization by voice; the transcript records aye and nay responses but does not list each member's recorded vote in the public record. Staff said contractors are on standby and costs are rising, so further delay could materially increase overall project costs.
