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Council rejects $197,986 stormwater contract after developer declines reimbursement; discussion focuses on Google's role
Summary
A stormwater contract for a culvert repair at 6015 Adams Center Road was not approved after City Utilities reported the developer would not pay; members urged the developer or benefitting parties (mentioned in discussion: Google) to cover the cost, and the bill failed 0–9.
City Utilities staff asked the council not to approve S25-11-38, a $197,986 stormwater drainage contract for a culvert repair at 6015 Adams Center Road, after the developer declined to pay or seek reimbursement.
"City Utilities is requesting that this ordinance for the Adams Center culvert repair contract be withdrawn," Eric Rupert of City Utilities said, adding, "The developer is not going to pay for the culvert work in its entirety and will not be seeking reimbursement."
Council members debated who should cover the cost. Councilman Jeff Paddock noted that many members had engaged with Google over this issue and said in his view the company, which has received public support and incentives, "needed to repair some goodwill" by paying the full cost. "A lot of it does benefit Google," Paddock said, arguing the company should shoulder the expense as the project advances.
The City Utilities committee proceeded with a due-pass-oriented motion but administrators signaled they preferred the item be pulled; the committee returned a 0–9 vote against approving the contract. The full council later recorded that the ordinance did not pass the council (0–9).
No final payment arrangement or alternate funding source was adopted at the meeting; councilors said staff and administration would continue to coordinate with stakeholders about who pays for the work.
