Engineers’ $310,000 estimate for Woodlon Street stormwater project highlighted at budget workshop

At the workshop, staff presented an engineering estimate for a drainage project focused on Woodlon Street and surrounding areas. Snider’s earlier design work — described by staff as costing about $30,000 to date — produced a roughly $310,000 total cost estimate for the initial phase, which includes piping, ditch work and an outlet to manage a 5-year storm event.

Staff explained the project is intended to begin at lower elevations, provide outfall to an existing concrete outlet by Rock Creek, and create a staged approach so future phases can extend drainage improvements across the northern side of town. Members cautioned that the estimate is at least a year old and that construction costs have increased since it was produced.

Councilors and staff noted limited external funding options for localized stormwater projects and the broader challenge of funding drainage work that primarily benefits the immediate neighborhood. The group asked staff to catalogue the project expenses already incurred, confirm the current cost estimate, and return with funding scenarios and grant possibilities or other financing options.