Bridgeport council approves 2022 fee schedule, change order limit

BRIDGEPORT – The Bridgeport City Council worked through a full agenda during its regular monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 18. They approved a resolution, set a public hearing, authorized a change order, passed two supplements, and appointed a member to the Planning Commission.

Council member Matthew Schuh recommended approval of a resolution that revised the city’s 2022 fee schedule.

A public hearing for the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) was set for the next council meeting on June 15.

Superintendent of Public Works Stuart Dezellem explained the need for council to approve a change order authorization (COA) to address those occasions where he needs the flexibility to approve adjustments quickly to avoid work interruptions while waiting for council approval.

Dezellem said the city has two projects underway, rebuilding the wastewater treatment lab destroyed in the 2020 Pearl Hill wildfire and construction of the city’s second water reservoir. He expects there may be changes necessary for the latter of the two projects and requests the authority to approve any change that falls within a cost limit set by the council. Council approved a COA limit not to exceed $20,000. COA’s in excess of $20K require council approval.

A $76,356 supplement to permit city engineer Gray & Osborne to oversee the design, construction administration and inspection for the electrical subcontractor Kinetic’s work on the wastewater treatment plant received council approval.

Council also approved a second supplement for Gray & Osborne to oversee work by POW Construction of Pasco on the city’s second water reservoir.

Dan Peterson was a unanimous choice for reappointment to Position 2 on the city’s planning commission.

Schuh proposed that the city increase its sales tax to create a fund to replace the city’s fire truck. Schuh recommended an increase from its current 7.7 percent to 7.8 or 7.9 percent. A resolution must be approved by the August Primary to get the measure on the November general election ballot.

Schuh said all Okanogan County cities have a sale tax rate above 8 percent and only Bridgeport and Mansfield in Douglas County are below 7.9 percent. It was recommended that city attorney Julie Norton be consulted for her input and additional information gathered to consider the tax increase at a later meeting,

Dezellem reported that work is progressing on the lab building and POW was ready to start turning dirt on the reservoir project on May 23. The city pool is full of water and pumps are running but it continues to lose water. He recommends that the interior surface needs to be sandblasted and regrouted to stop leakage through the deteriorating grout.

Dezellem said he has agreed to take 20 truckloads of asphalt grindings from Central Washington Asphalt that is doing major work on Highway 17. He is going to use the material around the city and county shops, on the road leading to the wastewater plant, a base for the tree sculpture parking lot, and other uses.

Council member and pool manager Jackie Hentges said there are a potential six lifeguards for the pool this season but hopes to have at least three committed. The pool is scheduled to open June 13.