The Bend City Council is moving forward on a controversial Surface Water Improvement Project. Debate over the $68 million dollar project drew a spillover crowd to Wednesday night's City Council meeting. People testified against and in favor of a resolution that focuses the City's attention on first replaces old pipes.

The Council voted for the resolution; the one dissenting vote came from Jim Clinton. "I have been, I think everyone knows a critic of this project since it came up for discussion. Tonight we have a resolution before us and I tried to look at it to see if it makes my criticism of the project in any way diminish or helps the City in the direction it could possible go at this moment. It doesn't meet that standard to me." The new piping will cost around $30 million and the City is delaying the portion of the project that involves hydro-power and a possible water treatment plant.