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Issaquah approves emergency payments after Ridgewood water main break; imposes conditions on EZ Fiber
Summary
After a June Ridgewood Circle water main rupture, Issaquah approved emergency payments to restore service and ordered the fiber franchisee EZ Fiber to reimburse costs and meet conditions before more work is allowed in the right of way.
City staff reported that a June 5 water main rupture on Ridgewood Circle required immediate repairs. Public Works Director Emily Moon said the city used nearby contractors—Harkness Construction and Fury Site Works—for emergency response and permanent repairs; the city was billed more than $512,000 for contractor work and about $54,000 in direct city costs.
Council authorized payments to the contractors with a related 2026 budget amendment and required EZ Fiber (the franchisee active at the nearby construction site) to reimburse the city before any permits are reissued. City staff explained that EZ Fiber’s active permits were placed on hold while CPD reviews work plans. The council also directed that EZ Fiber must pay for an independent consultant and full‑time inspection support, limit concurrent work sites, provide 48‑hour public notifications before work and video inspect crossings in advance. The motion passed unanimously.
Quotable: “The total cost that the city was billed for those two contractors working for us was over $512,000,” Public Works staff reported. The city has invoiced the franchisee for those amounts and will not reissue permits until the costs are repaid.
