Klamath Falls council approves $1.0M water-main project and multiple contracts, adopts supplemental budget and two ordinances

The Klamath Falls City Council on Monday approved a series of contracts, a supplemental budget resolution and two ordinances, including a $1,004,106.82 contract to replace approximately 1,200 linear feet of water main on Holmdale Road.

City Manager Jonathan Tigard told council staff had documentation ready and that the city anticipated wiring and signing of an MOU to proceed with the property sale at 500 Klamath Avenue; council authorized the city manager to execute the necessary documents. "We have all the documentation ready...we anticipate tomorrow, the wiring, and the signing of the MOU for us to go ahead and proceed with that," Tigard said. Councilor McClung noted he had stepped away from early discussions because a relative works for the buying organization and said he did so to avoid the perception of favoritism, though he indicated he would vote on the formal authorization.

On infrastructure and services, the council:

- Authorized a contract with Northco USA to construct the Holmdale Road water mainline replacement in an amount not to exceed $1,004,106.82, plus a contingency allowance of $200,821.36. Water manager Robbie West explained the project will relieve a hydraulic bottleneck on the system and support growth on the east side of town: "it creates a bottleneck...in order to do this, it's just going to help with the longevity of that area," he said.

- Approved a chip-seal intergovernmental agreement with Klamath County in the amount of $176,000, including a 10% contingency, to use county equipment and crews to apply chip seal to city streets.

- Awarded a construction contract to Bob's Excavating Inc. to replace failing brick manholes and clay pipe on North 2nd Street in an amount not to exceed $181,520, plus a contingency allowance of $36,304 (the agenda reading included a slightly different figure when stated aloud; the agenda text lists $181,520).

- Authorized the purchase of three Ford Police Interceptor all-wheel-drive vehicles (consent agenda) not to exceed $153,580.26, and separately approved a goods and services contract with Day Wireless to upfit those three vehicles in an amount not to exceed $91,701.87.

- Adopted by resolution a supplemental budget for the 2025962027 biennium covering the general fund, capital projects fund and escrow reserve fund; Finance Director Jessica Lindsey said the largest item in the supplemental budget is funding for a remodel of a new building and noted smaller items such as a roller trailer funded from auction proceeds.

The council also completed second and final readings and adopted a special ordinance granting a nonexclusive franchise to a telecommunications company to operate within the city, and adopted an ordinance adding section 9.030 to the Klamath Falls City Code. The meeting record as read aloud used a title that referenced "Communications Incorporated" for the franchise ordinance; the agenda and ordinance text should be consulted for the official company name.

City staff notified council of a Waste Management rate increase, a 4% pass-through tied to higher county landfill tipping rates effective Sept. 1, 2026; no council action was required. The meeting adjourned into executive session under ORS 192.6602.