WATER SYSTEM ENGINEER SELECTED

OFFICIAL DESIGNATION VOTED – Keller named as project engineer.

The city of Salmon’s water delivery system infrastructure is in need major repairs according to independent studies conducted last year. Results of the study began the process of initiating a multi-million-dollar project, one phase at a time. In February the council decided to move forward into phase II that involves the replacement of 30,000 feet of water lines, valves, fire hydrants and refurbishing a river crossing. Including the engineering cost, this phase is estimated to be an $8 million dollar project. Phase II also included the city’s publishing a Request For Qualifications on which to base the hiring of an engineer to oversee the work.

At the April 21 meeting of the Salmon City Council City Administrator Emery Penner announced the result of the request which was, Keller and Associates. Their qualifications came out leading all the rest. He said it is now time to officially select an engineer so the project can move ahead. Once selected the City can begin negotiating the engineering cost with Keller and Associates.

Councilman Neal James began pre-vote council discussions by suggesting the city hire its own full-time engineer to do the work. Penner said that due to the scope of the work a city engineer would have to hire the help Keller already has on-staff. Former Forest Service Engineer, Councilor Jim Baker, said he entirely agreed with Penner. He said it is simply not possible for one person to do all the work involved in the $8 million Phase II portion of the project.

James persisted that it was just a matter of relacing water lines, “…not designing a space shuttle.” Penner then listed the agencies involved in waterline replacement and the permits plus the documentation and details required by the state.

Jim Mullen of Keller Associates assured the council about the quality of the 130 people on-staff at his firm and said their combined experience has been known to save money on projects. He said the timing of this project is good because of future uncertainties in the market. Mullen said he appreciates the confidence the council has placed in the company.

Councilor Robin Phillips made a motion to accept Keller and Associates as the engineering firm for the city’s Phase II water project. Her motion passed on a five to one vote with James casting the ‘no’ vote.

Earlier this year the council voted to seek funds for the multi-million-dollar Water Delivery System project by way of Judicial Confirmation rather than by a public vote. There is much legal paperwork involved in obtaining Judicial Confirmation and after hearing Penner’s report on the research he has done, the council decided to retain Stephanie Bonnie from the Boise, Idaho law firm of Moore Smith Buxton & Turcke (MSBT) as the attorney for the Judicial Confirmation process. The vote was unanimous.