Bridgeport School District requests city help with farm project

BRIDGEPORT –The school district has reached out to the city council with a request that the city cover the cost of utility water hookup for the school farm.
City clerk/treasurer Judy Brown said the cost to complete the hookup is about $3,000.

Mayor Sergio Orozco said he learned from previous meetings with the school that the farm project is being paid for by the school and not by a grant or other funding.

“They are trying to save money wherever they can,” Orozco said.

“I’m in favor of it,” council member Vince Martinez said.

Brown noted that the hookup fee is normally a part of the contractor’s bid.

Martinez amended his support only if the request was from the school and not from a contractor trying to avoid absorbing the fee.

Council member Matthew Schuh expressed concern about the city agreeing to pick up all costs while dealing with another major unresolved issue. 

“My only concern is with the potential of what we are facing with the sheriff’s contract, the image that is going to portray to the community if we are gifting it,” said Schuh. “Maybe we do a 50-50 with them where we pay half, and they pay half. That way they are getting a break…because $3,000 is quite a bit.”

Mayor Orozco said he would take the 50-50 proposition to the school district, confirm that it is not a contractor’s request, and report back to the council.

Council member Jackie Hentges asked if gifting services like utility hookups to a school district was typical in other districts, but the consensus suggests it is not.

Work on the farm is progressing, and the construction of the barn is underway. Ag instructor Adam Corum said the school previously had a barn structure located away from the campus, but it was destroyed by the 2020 Pearl Hill wildfire.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media