The city of Hermiston is planning to purchase property for a new skate park across the street from the police station.

On Monday the city council authorized staff to make an offer of $40,000 for a triangular-shaped piece of property directly across South First Street from the Hermiston Safety Center, which houses the police, fire department and municipal court.

For 2015-2016 the city had budgeted $35,000 for land acquisition for a skate park and another $50,000 for capital improvements. City Manager Byron Smith said preliminary discussions with Pendleton Grain Growers, which owns the property, indicate that the co-op will accept an offer of $40,000.

Mayor David Drotzmann applauded staff for finding a piece of land that fits the needs of a new skate park, which has been a goal for the city council for years.

“What an exciting opportunity for the city of Hermiston,” he said.

On Monday the council also approved a contract amendment for C&E Trenching, moving forward a crucial piece of the project to certify the Port of Umatilla’s water right and increase irrigation to local farmland.

“This is the best birthday present I could ever ask for,” Northeast Oregon Water Association director J.R. Cook told the council.

C&E Trenching has been under contract with the city to extend the Regional Water System to the Hermiston Agricultural Research and Extension Center. The $664,000 contract extension approved Monday hires the company to install an additional pump at the Regional Water System’s river intake station and create a flush system.

Cook said the project should be ready for testing in March.

Prior to the regular city council meeting, city councilors, staff and budget committee members attended a work session titled “City Budgeting 101” to discuss the laws and policies surrounding city budgets.

City finance director Amy Palmer said budget requests from department heads are due March 4 and the budget should be completed by April 22, with budget committee meetings on May 18-19 and a public hearing June 13.

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Contact Jade McDowell at jmcdowell@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4536.