Council accepts upsized water main, waives up to $36,435 in impact fees for Alpine Grove project

The White Salmon City Council on Feb. 4 approved a memorandum of understanding to accept an upsized eight-inch public water main from Alpine Grove project developers and to waive water and sewer impact fees not to exceed $36,435.

Director of Public Works Chris True told Council staff discovered an existing 2-inch water line adjacent to the sewer on SW Alpine Grove Lane during construction; state health rules required relocation. Staff’s analysis showed the City would avoid $75,982.32 in costs by not installing a replacement 2-inch line and that the net financial benefit to the City from accepting the 8-inch main would be $39,547.32. Director True described the numbers and confirmed the cost figure for City-installed replacement excludes the separate cost of installing an 8-inch main if the City had done so.

Council Member Doug Rainbolt said he viewed the MOU as a good-faith transaction but expressed concern that a deeper proportionality analysis had not been completed. Council Member Ben Giant asked whether the 8-inch main complied with the City’s water system plan; Director True said the City’s engineer recommended an 8-inch main and the project complies with the plan.

On a motion by Patty Fink, seconded by Ben Giant, Council approved the MOU with White Salmon Storage Units LLC, Alpine Grove Property Lot 2 LLC, and Alpine Grove Property Lot 3 LLC, authorizing acceptance of an upsized eight-inch public water main and waiving water and sewer impact fees in an amount not to exceed $36,435; motion carried 4-0. City Attorney Shawn MacPherson said the document would return with administrative revisions to signature lines and notary clauses to verify signing authority and staff would verify property ownership.

The approval accepts upgraded infrastructure into the City system and records a temporary fee waiver; Council requested administrative verification of signatories before final execution.