Streetscape project stopped in its tracks
Although the Libby City Council voted on a resolution of intent to authorize up to $40,000 to begin the streetscapes’ lighting and sidewalk improvements in their last meeting, May 6, concerns raised at a meeting last Tuesday have halted the project before it began.
A special city council working committee meeting will literally walk through the proposed improvements of the streetscape plan for the special improvement district, which includes the first two blocks of Mineral Avenue between U.S. Highway 2 and Lincoln Boulevard, at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27, at the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Mineral Avenue.
According to city council member Peggy Williams, a member of the working committee, it’s not a financial issue that is holding it up, it’s simply a matter of ironing out the details so everyone is on the same page.
“I can’t say what’s going to be held until we walk the two blocks and discuss it,” she said. “Part of what has come under discussion is that we might want to see a plan for the entire length of the street and understand how it’s all going to interface together.”
Although a more expensive plan has bounced around the city council for the last couple of years, a scaled down version has evolved, which includes lighting, sidewalks, park benches and landscaping - namely trees.
“We want to make sure when we start it that it’s going to be a good project,” Williams said. “I envision we’ll look at the projects, look at what’s proposed, determine what the problems are, and if the problems that exist are not insurmountable, it could go forward.”
But Williams said they need to determine exactly what the project entails.
“There are issues we need to resolve before we go forward,” said Williams. “At this point I don’t want to rush into something.”
But according to councilor Walt McElmury, it is a financial concern.
“I think (the plan) is a good idea, but cost-wise I want to make sure before we lay it down on the customers and the people that we have everyone on board,” he said.
According to the current plan, property owners within the SID would be assessed a $25 fee per lineal frontage foot, with the proceeds - around $30,000 - going to the streetscape plan.
Total costs for the two block district are estimated at $93,000.
The city’s economic development fund would cover $30,000 of the costs, to be borrowed then paid back over a period of time with revenues from the assessment on the involved properties.
“The SID is put on the businesses, so me personally, I want to see 80% of the businesses for it,” said McElmury, cautioning against cramming the project down the business’ owners throats.
“I just want to cover all my bases,” he said. “Not just a handfull.”
McElmury also cited other projects the city is involved with this summer, such as the pavilion and the golf course, and the potential costs of water and sewer if federal funding doesn’t come through.
“It’s an issue money-wise for the city to go ahead with this,” McElmury said. “Federal funding is holding us up at the moment. I don’t want too many irons in the fire.”
According to Trent Oelberg, Libby Main Street Program Director, it’s a matter of prioritizing.
If the money becomes available, city crews will begin digging up sidewalks to put in the conduit for the lights.
“We have $40,000 in lighting, because a big portion of the project is lighting,” said Libby Mayor Tony Berget, noting the lights will be cheaper, more eco-friendly, and give off lower light pollution.
“They’re going to be a heck of lot more energy efficient and look a heck of a lot nicer too,” he added.
“How long that is going to take - I don’t know. We may do a couple of blocks every year or couple of years. It depends on how the first two blocks go and just a matter a matter of what we can do,” Berget said.
McElmury noted two councilors’ absences at the May 20 meeting to put the project on hold.
“The way it stands right now, we’ll wait until June 2nd (before the final vote), and wait until we have a quorum before we make any decisions.”