Eastern Oregon University presents $9M-a-year capital plan, seeks city help on athletic field infrastructure

An Eastern Oregon University representative told city officials that the university is investing about $9 million a year in capital projects and that those investments generated more than $45 million between 2021 and 2025.

"We're investing $9 million annually in capital projects that directly result in local work — local contractors, construction workers, suppliers, professional services," the representative said, citing a two-page study provided to the council and describing the university as a major local employer.

The presenter said the institution produces roughly $76 million in economic impact within Union County and supports about 830 jobs, and that athletic events and campus programs draw nearly 20,000 visitors annually.

Those visits, the representative said, bring hotel and retail customers to La Grande and surrounding communities: "Throughout the summer, many of our hotels and Airbnbs are booked by local folk who come or non-local folks who come and drop off their kids," the presenter said, noting the university recently hosted a volleyball championship and other tournaments.

The university's board has approved additional spending from auxiliary (athletics) funds for a pared-down ball-field complex intended to let more teams host home games, the representative said. But construction faces a key infrastructure obstacle: a water main that runs through the proposed field area and will require excavation below the existing line.

"The excavation does go below the existing water main line and so this is going to cause issues in the longer term," the presenter said, warning that placing turf over utility lines can create expensive maintenance complications and asking for collaboration with city staff to reduce costs and disruption.

City staff and university representatives acknowledged rising material and labor estimates and agreed to continue coordinating on project timing and utility-locating decisions so the work can proceed without undue expense. A staff member said prior conversations had flagged higher-than-expected cost estimates and encouraged lining up locations and timelines that minimize relocation costs.

The presenter said the university is prepared to contribute a substantial share of construction costs but asked the city to share some of the burden: "We are one of your largest [employers] as well. I would ask you to consider that the city earns some part of this cost," the presenter said.

On broader facilities, the representative said three university projects were submitted to the state's higher-education bond ranking process and the presenter described one project, listed as a student-access project, as ranked number three in the state. The presenter said they will advocate for state funding in the months ahead.

The representative also said Fashion Hall has serious HVAC and electrical problems and that the university may seek emergency funds to address those systems.

Next steps, the presenter said, include returning to the city with staff-identified risks and concerns and a recommended path forward; funds for the athletic project would be released only after formal approvals. "We'll bring it back to you and we'll give you the risks and concerns from the staff as well as recommending...," the presenter said.

No formal motion or vote was recorded in the transcript; participants described continuing coordination and a plan to report further details and cost estimates to the city before construction proceeds.