Columbus council approves 12th Street sewer task order, raises water‑repair cap to $75,000 and OKs Stillwater Balloon Rally

The Columbus City Council approved several infrastructure and event items at its meeting, including a $50,000 task order for the 12th Street Sewer Crossing, an increase in a water‑repair contract cap to $75,000 and a special‑use permit for the Stillwater Balloon Rally.

The council voted to authorize Task Order No. 35 with Interstate Engineering to provide design and funding‑administration services for the 12th Street Sewer Crossing project for $50,000. The public works representative told the council the task order is intended to bring project design documents and permitting up to date and could cover contingencies such as design changes or permit‑related variances. "If those contingencies for the design change and also the permitting [occur], I believe that we're gonna end up doing with them," the public works representative said, describing the need to include potential variance work within the task order.

Council members unanimously approved a contract amendment with Heart 7 to increase the not‑to‑exceed amount for water service repairs from $50,000 to $75,000. Public works staff described challenges locating older AC pipe and the need to excavate to verify connections and install additional valves. "When we had issues and something's leaking, having to shut 3 blocks off... so I just need to throw some valves in," the public works representative said, adding the extra funds will allow the contractor to complete current repairs and address immediate valve work.

The council also approved a special‑use permit for the Stillwater Balloon Rally organized by the Columbus Fire Rescue Association, scheduled May 29–31, contingent on county approval and proper proof of insurance. An event representative said the plan largely mirrors last year's event but noted a date change and that parking arrangements could change if construction at Stillwater proceeds. "At this point, we're rolling with exactly the same thing that was last year," the organizer said, while noting parking remains to be finalized.

Two airport items cleared the agenda: the council approved assignment of an existing lease from Cows Around to Bison Air LLC and approved an entitlement transfer of $212,505 (listed as expiring this year for Baltimore Memorial) to Yellowstone Airport.

Votes at a glance

- Approval of prior meeting minutes (with roster addition): passed (unanimous). - Approval of delinquent shutoffs: passed (unanimous). - Approval of claims: passed (unanimous). - Task Order No. 35 — Interstate Engineering, 12th Street Sewer Crossing, $50,000: passed (unanimous). - Contract amendment No. 1 — Heart 7, water service repairs, increase from $50,000 to $75,000: passed (unanimous). - Special‑use permit — Stillwater Balloon Rally, May 29–31, contingent on county approval and insurance: passed (unanimous). - Airport lease assignment — Cows Around to Bison Air LLC: passed (unanimous). - Entitlement transfer — $212,505 to Yellowstone Airport: passed (unanimous).

The council did not set further deadlines for the sewer or water projects during the meeting; staff indicated additional design, permitting and possible variance work will be pursued as needed and that further authorizations would return to the council if required.