The Hood River City Council approved awarding a contract for Phase 1 of replacement of the deteriorating storm line in the Waterfront District. The contract was awarded to the lone bidder, Landis & Landis Construction of Portland, for $984,352, over $116,000 under engineer’s estimates. Phase 1 stretches approximately 600 feet east and 300 feet north of the intersection of Riverside Drive and North 8th Street, and is considered the most urgent part of the work because it will bypass a recurring sinkhole. The City is pursuing financing through the Department of Environmental Quality and United States Department of Agriculture. Work is expected to be finished in November.