City sewer project significantly under budget

The city’s large sewer project is expected to come in at nearly half of its previously anticipated $6.5 million budget. The project will update the dilapidated sewer system near Blaine school district, Blaine Senior Center and north of Burger King. 

Blaine City Council unanimously approved Bellingham-based Strider Construction Co. to construct the G Street sewer project at $3.9 million, not including 8.8 percent sales tax, during the March 27 council meeting. 

Problems with the sewer system culminated in summer 2020 when the sewer overflowed into the streets west and southwest of the Blaine school district campus. The issue was then brought to city council’s attention in March 2021 and it approved David Evans and Associates to conduct the project’s engineering work. Engineering estimates originally anticipated a $6.5 million project total but city finance director Daniel Heverling said city was bracing to need up to $7.5 million. 

In March 2021, city staff advised city council that the General Sewer Plan, a study on the city’s sewer infrastructure finished in 2004 and updated in 2005, recommended the city sewer lines be updated in 2009. The study predicted that, if the pipes weren’t fixed, sewage would leak where overflow was observed in summer 2020. 

David Evans and Associates finished engineering work last spring after delays due to staffing challenges, soil conditions and easements. Construction was expected to begin last summer but was delayed.

The project will install or replace 6,600 feet of aged sewer lines with larger PVC pipe. The sewer lines will be added on G Street, north of the senior center; on 8th Street, north of G Street; and will run northwest to southwest of Blaine schools from just north of G Street to Boblett Street. 

The sewer project has remained similar to the original plan aside from a few grade changes for flow improvement. Design work is also being done to replace another 930 feet of sewer line on 14th and E streets, northeast of Burger King. 

Construction is expected to start in May, depending on the supply chain, and will take four months, said Gary McSpadden, acting Blaine public works director.

The engineer’s estimate was conservative to ensure all of the city’s costs were covered, which is why the project came out significantly under budget, McSpadden said. Six companies bid to work on the project and the majority of those projects were in the $4 million range, according to city documents. Strider Construction was the lowest bidder.

“Those were some very reputable companies,” McSpadden said. “Those numbers are reassuring for me when they come in like that in a cluster.”

Whatcom County Council recently authorized giving Blaine a nearly $1.9 million grant and $625,000 loan for the sewer project. Blaine City Council is expected to accept the funds, which are being paid for through the county’s Economic Development Investment Program, at an upcoming meeting. 

City council also approved the city to take out a $5 million bond last year that will be paid back from the sewer fund. The bond has a 3.2 percent interest rate for 15 years. 

“If the project comes in at $4 million, it would be a dramatic impact because we budgeted that it would be around $7 million,” Heverling said. “It saves us money we can use on other sewer and water projects.”

The saved money won’t help the city’s projected $1 million budget deficit for 2023 because that shortfall is in the general fund. However, Heverling noted the leftover funds could be used for other projects, such as wellfield improvements, that would be beneficial overall for the city. 

McSpadden said public works is working to minimize inconvenience to surrounding residents and businesses. The city plans to do more outreach to inform residents about the construction as the start date gets closer, he said.

“Construction is construction,” he said. “You are going to have some detours and traffic control, that’s just the nature of construction. We’re thinking about the citizens and trying to minimize that impact as much as possible."