HERMISTON — The Hermiston City Council approved a plan to jointly fund a look at putting a bridge across the Umatilla River.

City Manager Byron Smith told the council during its meeting Monday, Aug. 23, that since 2001 the city’s transportation systems plan has considered a bridge over the Umatilla River, and now the city’s needs for that bridge have multiplied over the past 20 years, and those needs are going to increase.

Hermiston continues to be the fastest growing community in Eastern Oregon, with a population now exceeding 19,000. According to Smith’s memo to council on the bridge project, the city is tracking to reach nearly 23,000 residents by 2030.

The project would analyze putting in a bridge to align with either Elm Avenue or Punkin Center Road. Smith said the analysis would cost $130,000, and Umatilla County and the city of Umatilla already are on board with sharing the cost. Umatilla has agreed to put in $30,000, Umatilla County has agreed to shoulder $50,000, Smith said, leaving Hermiston to put in the remaining $50,000.

The city has chased federal grants to pay for this examination, Smith said, but continuing to go that route would “really slow things down a lot.” And the $50,000, he added, is about the same amount the city would pay if it obtained a grant.

Councilor Jackie Meyers said this idea has been on the city’s burner for 20-plus years, and now it’s time to flesh out the technical work of determining which spot is going to work the best.

The council voted 8-0 in favor of a memorandum of understanding outlining the joint funding of the engineering analysis, which the firm Anderson Perry & Associates will do.

The council also met in a closed-door session to discuss the contract with the city manager. Smith has served in the role for seven years. After the session, the council voted unanimously to extend Smith’s contract through Aug. 24, 2023, adding one year to his contract. Mayor Dave Drotzmann expressed his appreciation for Smith and his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic.