Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sewer Repair Dibble House topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Molalla council approves up to $10,000 to repair sewer lateral for Dibble House museum
Summary
The Molalla City Council approved payment from city sewer funds to repair the Dibble House museum's compromised sewer lateral, with staff setting a cap of $10,000; the museum had presented bids ranging from $7,500 to $15,000 and warned closure could result if repairs were not completed.
The Molalla City Council on March 25 voted to provide up to $10,000 from city sewer funds to repair the sewer lateral that serves the Dibble House museum, a property of the Molalla Area Historical Society, after staff said the lateral is fully compromised and that repair costs would otherwise fall to the nonprofit property owner.
Assistant City Manager Mac Corthell explained city code normally places the financial burden for sewer laterals on the property owner, but staff flagged the Dibble House as a nonprofit with significant public benefit and asked council to consider a deviation. Corthell said the sewer-line repair account has funds available and that city crews may be able to perform some work in house to reduce costs.
Sherry O'Brien, president of the Molalla Area Historical Society and the Dibble House, told council she had received three plumbing bids: the lowest for $7,500 and the highest for $15,000 to address the property-side connection to the cleanout. A more extensive in-street replacement would be far costlier if the pipe beneath the street is collapsed; staff said the street lateral is concrete and the condition under the street remains uncertain.
Council asked whether grants might be available; staff said typical grants take months and are unlikely to address an urgent need. Corthell moved to approve payment for the repair and the council set a not-to-exceed cap of $10,000; the motion passed 5-0.
What happens next: city staff will review bids and scopes, perform in-house work where feasible, and use sewer repair funds to complete the lateral work outside the building footprint; interior repairs remain the responsibility of the property owner.
