Mayor breaks tie on J Street sink hole repair

AUBURN – Auburn Mayor Chris Erickson broke a tie vote among the city council Monday to award a contract for J Street culvert repairs linked to a 2018 sink hole that snagged a garbage truck and remained open even after 80 tons of gravel.

The city received two bids for the project and City Administrator Crystal Dunekacke said MC Wells Contracting was the lowest by $100,000.

The $427,000 bid includes abandoning the existing storm sewer and building a new 48-inch storm sewer.

In June, the city approved Core Area City Projects identified by the  Community Redevelopment Authority.

The CRA had anticipated $540,000 for the Highway 75 drainage. The projects also include $500,000 for an ADA accessible playground, $219,000 for downtown street scaping and Courthouse Avenue restoration.

Councilmen Nathan Seitz, Brian Lavigne, and Rick Janssen voted in favor of awarding the contract. Councilmen Tom Clark, Johnny Curttright and Shawn Clark voted against.

In another contested vote, the council voted 5-1 to approve a liquor license for Little Ted’s at 1719 Courthouse Ave. Janssen cast the dissenting vote