Lind Council terminates contract with Stantec for Stormwater Project

The Town of Lind’s Storm Water Project is done for the time being.

During the meeting, Stantec Engineer Alan Gay notified the Council the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) would not grant the Town’s request for a deadline extension for the Storm Water project.

At the March 13 meeting, the Council authorized Gay to draft a letter to Ecology requesting the deadline extension for the project from the June 30 deadline for next year.

Gay said Stantec would have to draft a report, send it to Ecology and respond to the agency’s comments. The Town would also need to purchase property from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR). He noted all of the work could not be completed by June 30.

Based on Ecology’s refusal to grant the deadline extension, Gay recommended the Town terminate its contract with Stantec Engineering for the project, which the Council approved.

He explained the Town does not owe Stantec money for their services. Lind would need to pay the obligation for the loan to Ecology, which would be $11,340.34 over a 20-year period.

If the Town wants to pursue the project in the future, Gay said the process may take another 2-3 years. He explained Lind would need to qualify as “low income,” which is contingent on an income survey.

Stantec would need to submit another loan proposal to Ecology that would score high enough for funding. Gay said Ecology will not penalize the Town if the project is terminated.

There is also a chance the project cost would increase in the future. Stantec would repackage the project and adjust the cost.

Gay acknowledged the Town has taken measures to mitigate potential stormwater issues, such as contracting to have vactor trucks clean out culverts and catch basins, which he noted reduced runoff and prevent flooding.

Gay recommended the Town continue to contract for vactor truck services to clean out 1-2 culverts on a rotation every year. He suggested the Town would need to budget at least $2,000 a year to pay for the service.

Another potential stormwater mitigation effort would be for Stantec to replace the Town’s manhole lids. Gay said Stantec could develop a plan, though Ecology would not fund that type of project.

Gay said Stantec could provide Century West with the information on the street’s hydraulics analysis, if the Council authorized him to do so, for the Sixth Street Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) improvements.

The Council voted to authorize Gay to share the information with Century West’s Steve Nelson. Gay said Nelson could include some of the stormwater improvements in his scope of work for the Sixth Street project. He added Nelson may approach the Council to request a modification for the scope of work in order to implement the stormwater improvement.

As for replacing the water pipes on Sixth Street, Gay said the Town could begin applying for grant funding after the income survey is complete. He said he would continue to aid the Town in the process of the income survey.

The Council also adopted an interlocal agreement for Lind to participate in Adams County Solid Waste Management and Planning, as well as the 2018 Adams County Solid Waste and Moderate Risk Waste Management Plan.

In other action items, the Council voted to cancel the One Call System with a consensus that it is not financially feasible for the Town.

During the Mayor update, Bell said the parts have been ordered to fix the fire hydrant that was damaged after an automobile collision earlier in the year.

Bell informed the council the City of Connell is scheduled to bring a street sweeper to Lind on May 22 to sweep selected streets. She added Connell could bring the sweeper before Lind Derby, though it would cost more money.

Bell said crews recently replaced a compressor on Well No. 8.