Bend Council Approves $19 Million for Water Project

The Bend City Council proceeded on a now-familiar 6-to-1 course Wednesday night to spend another $19.2 million on its controversial water pipeline project, bringing the total contract so far to more than $23 million.

Steadfast critic Councilor Jim Clinton said he’s “more firmly convinced the city is spending too much money for a project with too many questionable elements.”

Critics such as Central Oregon Landwatch and Stop the Drain pressed their case, but a strong majority of councilors stuck with their view that the aging pipeline to Bridge Creek, a tributary of Tumalo Creek, needs replacing, and that it’s best to keep the city’s two water sources, from the creek and underground wells.

The latest approval involves construction of intake facility modifications and a raw water conduit for the surface water improvement project.

City Attorney Mary Winters assured that if there were problems with Forest Service permits, as the pipeline project is tied in timing to next year’s Skyliners Road reconstruction, the city could halt the contract, though it would have to pay for the work done to that point.

The councilors later approved an updated water “public facility plan,” although foes raised similar issues, about whether the water project is even part of an acknowledged plan.

At this point, the “guaranteed maximum price” approved for M.A. Mortenson Construction, the construction manager/general contractor, is $23.67 million.