St. Helens council approves $2.23M water‑main contract, approves consent items and directs staff to draft municipal services fee ordinance for voter review

St. Helens — In business proceedings following public comment, the City Council approved a series of motions that will shape city infrastructure and near‑term fiscal options.

Contract award: Council moved to award a construction contract to Common Ground Excavation LLC for the Railroad Avenue / South 1st Street water‑main replacement project (W485) in the amount of $2,229,908.94 and authorized the mayor to sign the contract. A motion to award the bid was made and seconded and the council approved the authorization to execute the agreement.

Consent agenda: The council approved a final partition plat for 80 South 21st Street, ratified an agreement with the Saint Helens School District for mutual use of facilities, and approved business licenses and accounts‑payable items listed in the packet. Those consent items were adopted by voice/roll‑call with councilors recorded as "Aye." The council also authorized a temporary prosecutorial services agreement with Christine Landers for pro tempore prosecutorial services.

Municipal services fee referral direction: A councilor moved to direct staff and legal counsel to prepare an ordinance to adopt a municipal services fee and refer it to voters on 05/19/2026; the motion specified the fee would fund general fund staffing, police, library, parks and recreation, community development, administration, municipal court, and to create a 20% reserve. The council voted to direct staff to prepare the ordinance and schedule additional public review; the motion did not itself place a measure on the ballot tonight.

Leak adjustment: The council voted to deny a leak‑adjustment request for the property at 2250 Gable Road.

Council reports: Members provided brief reports including a Feb. 19 dedication at McCormick Park and a status update on discussions with Romano Capital and a Milton Creek Preserve walk.

What happens next: The awarded contract will move to execution; the municipal services fee ordinance will be drafted for public review and may be placed on the May 19, 2026 ballot pending further action; consent‑agenda items take effect per standard administrative timelines. The leak adjustment denial stands as council action from tonight’s meeting.

Representative quotes from the meeting record are used in this report.