Residents press St. Helens council to pause lagoon/reservoir plan amid contamination, cost concerns
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Summary
Multiple residents urged the St. Helens City Council to halt or reconsider plans to fill a lagoon with outside sediments and to scrutinize reservoir siting, citing contamination risks, large projected costs and reliance on grant funds rather than city money.
Several residents used the visitor‑comment period to press the St. Helens City Council for caution on a proposed lagoon/reservoir project, saying contaminant risks and unfavorable economics argue against accepting dredged sediments from other jurisdictions.
Steve Atoske, a resident who addressed the council during public comment, criticized proposals to import dredged material from Portland and said the city should develop local options instead. “The fact that we’re gonna take a bunch of sludge from the Willamette in Portland and stick it in our lagoon…If it can’t go into the river, it’s toxic,” Atoske said, urging the city to use its own engineering resources to find alternatives.
Art Laskowitz, another commenter who reviewed the studies, said the city has spent “over $1,000,000 plus” on lagoon work (grant funds) and highlighted modeling that showed the project’s net value ranging “anywhere from minus $50,000,000 to $80,000,000,” arguing that private partners have not emerged to make the project viable. He urged council to rely on data rather than emotion when deciding next steps.
Council members and staff clarified that funds spent to date on studies and planning were grant dollars and that the city has not expended general‑fund money on the studies. Council discussion in a prior work session suggested a cautious stance; public commenters referenced remarks by Council President Chilton described as pressing a “no‑go” option.
The council later approved a first amendment to the Keller Associates agreement for the reservoir siting study, indicating the city will continue technical work on siting while questions remain about costs, contaminants and long‑term feasibility.
Next steps: The council authorized an amendment to the Keller Associates agreement to continue siting study work; additional technical review and funding discussions are expected before any final decision about accepting outside sediments or constructing a reservoir.
