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Council holds $6.9 million Sawmill Run salt‑storage plan for one week after safety and cost questions
Summary
Council’s public works committee held Bill 25‑74 for one week after lengthy questioning about a proposed $6,907,813 Sawmill Run salt‑storage facility. Staff said the existing dome is structurally failing and poses safety and operational risks; members requested an itemized cost breakdown and alternatives analysis.
The Public Works committee voted to hold Bill 25‑74 for one week after extended debate about a proposed Sawmill Run salt‑storage facility estimated at $6,907,813.
City public‑works officials told the committee the existing concrete dome is deteriorating: "the building itself is a safety hazard," the department's presentation said, noting holes, corroded reinforcement and failed emergency ventilation. Staff said demolition, extensive site work and stormwater controls tied to the site's proximity to Sawmill Run account for roughly $4 million of the project cost.
Council members pressed for alternatives and more detail. "The price tag does seem a little heavy," Councilman Caughell said, asking whether repair estimates exist and whether other sites had been considered. Councilwoman Kale Smith said she wanted a one‑week hold to receive an itemized scope and to see comparisons with other facilities. "I'd like to hold it for 1 week," she said, citing a need for more time to weigh priorities amid tight capital constraints.
Staff described operational risks of delaying work. They said the current facility stores up to 5,000 tons of salt and that without a long‑term covered depot the city would face logistical and cost risks during high‑demand winter events. The department noted the new structure would be built with glulam timber framing rather than the failing concrete dome to avoid repeat deterioration.
Members also asked about funding sources and procurement: officials said the project is capital‑funded, primarily with bond proceeds and a special revenue fund; design is complete and the project has been bid. Committee members sought confirmation of the funding mix and a line‑by‑line cost estimate.
The committee's decision was procedural: a motion to hold the bill for one week passed, allowing staff to return with the requested cost breakdown, comparisons to alternative sites or repair options, and details on interim storage and the project's permitting timeline. The hold preserves the committee's ability to revisit the measure with the additional information requested by members.
Next steps: staff will supply an itemized budget, alternatives analysis and the schedule for construction and permitting at the reconvened committee meeting the following week.
