Council authorizes Monmouth to join feasibility study for regional water treatment plant with opt‑out after phase 1
June 17, 2025 | Monmouth City, Polk County, Oregon
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The Monmouth City Council authorized the city manager to enter an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Polk County and the City of Independence to complete a feasibility study and preliminary engineering report for a regional water treatment plant by a 6-0 vote June 17.
David Carr, Monmouth’s city engineer, told council the IGA covers only phase 1 (feasibility and preliminary engineering) and gives each participating jurisdiction an opportunity to exit the process after that phase if the project is not advantageous to them. "This IGA is only for phase 1 of this study, and it provides Monmouth an off ramp," Carr said, emphasizing the city would not be committed to later construction costs by signing the phase‑1 agreement.
Carr said the study will evaluate point‑of‑diversion capacity in the river, verify water rights and assess how the proposed system might affect Monmouth’s existing wells. The engineering work will include monitoring (for roughly a year) and is intended to produce the technical information jurisdictions need before committing to later phases, including construction. Carr estimated phase 1 would take about a year.
Staff noted numerical differences in water‑rights complexity among partners, which affect each jurisdiction’s share. Carr said Monmouth’s estimated cost for its share of the phased work is about $295,000 and that amount has been budgeted. He said consultants experienced in municipal water systems will do the technical work and that the IGA creates an oversight committee with one representative from each jurisdiction.
Council discussion ranged from concerns about partners exiting later phases to questions about project timing; staff said Independence has a pressing need and the study is set up so the engineering results will inform each jurisdiction’s decision. Councilor Oberst moved to authorize the city manager to enter the IGA; the motion passed on roll call and staff were directed to sign the agreement so Monmouth can participate in phase 1.
David Carr, Monmouth’s city engineer, told council the IGA covers only phase 1 (feasibility and preliminary engineering) and gives each participating jurisdiction an opportunity to exit the process after that phase if the project is not advantageous to them. "This IGA is only for phase 1 of this study, and it provides Monmouth an off ramp," Carr said, emphasizing the city would not be committed to later construction costs by signing the phase‑1 agreement.
Carr said the study will evaluate point‑of‑diversion capacity in the river, verify water rights and assess how the proposed system might affect Monmouth’s existing wells. The engineering work will include monitoring (for roughly a year) and is intended to produce the technical information jurisdictions need before committing to later phases, including construction. Carr estimated phase 1 would take about a year.
Staff noted numerical differences in water‑rights complexity among partners, which affect each jurisdiction’s share. Carr said Monmouth’s estimated cost for its share of the phased work is about $295,000 and that amount has been budgeted. He said consultants experienced in municipal water systems will do the technical work and that the IGA creates an oversight committee with one representative from each jurisdiction.
Council discussion ranged from concerns about partners exiting later phases to questions about project timing; staff said Independence has a pressing need and the study is set up so the engineering results will inform each jurisdiction’s decision. Councilor Oberst moved to authorize the city manager to enter the IGA; the motion passed on roll call and staff were directed to sign the agreement so Monmouth can participate in phase 1.
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