Oak Harbor City Council members chose to move forward with replacing a concrete lookout platform on the waterfront in order to make it safe for pedestrians.

Two councilmen, however, disagreed with the decision because they see it as a waste of money.

A scenic lookout on the city’s waterfront trail, at Southeast Pioneer Way and Pasek Street, is actually the top of two sanitary sewer “vaults.” The structure is not sound and either needs to be fenced off or replaced, city staff said.

The council voted 3-2 to authorize staff to solicit construction bids for the proposed project. The proposal is to demolish and replace the concrete lids on the vaults, as well as 105 feet of sidewalk and handrails.

The engineer’s estimate is $178,000.

An EA-18 Growler memorial would be installed at the site after the work is complete.

Councilman Rick Almberg objected to continuing the project, saying that too much money has been spent on the project already and that the city has higher priorities.

Councilman Jim Woess-ner agreed, saying that, in hindsight, the council probably wouldn’t have started the project if they knew how it would turn out.

“Obviously, it just continued to snowball and snowball and snowball,” he said.

According to city staff, the project got its start in October 2016 after a consultant was hired for $17,000 to investigate the structural integrity of the vaults. The original contract was amended four times over the next two years and the work was increased to include engineering design.

The amendments increased the contract amount to $78,000.

Council members Joel Servatius and Beth Munns said they believe the project is worth finishing, especially with all the money spent on it already.

Councilwoman Tara Hizon agreed, saying the waterfront trail is known as a “jewel” in the city. She said the alternative would be to have a “giant concrete square sticking out the front of the waterfront trail.”

City Engineer Joe Stowell explained that the city would have to build a railing around the area to keep people out if the project isn’t continued. The memorial would have to be placed somewhere else.

Almberg made a motion to “not spend anymore money on the Pasek sewer outfall.” It failed in a 2-3 vote, with Woessner joining him. He and Woessner voted against the successful motion to move forward with soliciting bids.