Council approves selling aging harvester, contracting harvests and funding lake study for 2026

Portage staff told the council on March 9 that the city
s 25-year-old aquatic weed harvester is structurally deteriorated and presents safety risks to operators. Replacement cost was reported at about $265,000 and refurbishment at approximately $219,000; staff also reported the city is ineligible for a 50% recreational boating facilities grant because Silver Lake
cutting acreage (6.55 acres) falls short of the 30-acre grant threshold.

Given the cost and grant ineligibility, staff recommended selling the current harvester and trailer (estimated sale value $15,000), contracting four contracted harvesting visits in 2026 with an outside contractor (Clearwater Plant Harvesters proposed a baseline charge of $5,700 per trip under a minimum-hour arrangement), and funding a PI (point-intercept) study to update the city


aquatic plant management plan. The lowest PI study proposal was $3,146; staff proposed using parkland/land-dedication fees to cover that expense.

Council members expressed concern for employee safety operating the current harvester and favored contracting for 2026 while doing the PI study and updating the cutting plan with DNR and Columbia County Land and Water Conservation. The council voted to sell the current harvester and trailer for $15,000, approve a multi-trip contract with an outside harvester for 2026, and approve $3,146 for a PI study, funded from parkland dedication fees.

Staff scheduled a public meeting (March 24 at 6 p.m.) with DNR and county representatives to present study results and solicit public input on the cutting plan.