Council OKs dam road plan

During a special meeting Thursday, Libby City Council members, staring at an $8.1 million expense of a dam reservoir construction project, bit the bullet and opted to have city and Lincoln County crews construct a new access road to allow equipment to a site where the dam will be built.

During a meeting last Monday that preceded the regular meeting, City Council members heard two bids — one of $290,000 that required an easement from the U.S. Forest Service and another for $390,000 solely on city land that was a steeper grade but entirely on city land.

After having consulted with city and county road department crews, Mayor Doug Roll recommended to Council members the city opt instead to have these crews do the work at a cost of  $50,000.

“It’s an estimate, but we feel confident we can do it for this, which is considerably more than either of the bids,” Roll said.

Roll met with City Street Department foreman Corky Pape and Lincoln County Roads Department Director Mark McCully, who both advised local crews are capable of doing the job.

“This (dam) is going to be an expensive project,” Roll told Council members. “Any way we can cut the cost with our own crews we’re going to try.”

Roll pointed out of the two scenarios presented by the engineering firm of Morrison and Maierele, Inc., the city is opting for the design that did not require an easement from the U.S. Forest Service.

Of the two bids, this design was the most expensive because it involved a steeper, less gradual descent. The other design was a longer, more gradual descent to the area where there will be a concrete staging pad for the crane that will used to move tons of concrete into place.

The staging platform that must be constructed is about 80 feet lower than the access road.

Roll indicated the savings to city workers would be $340,000.

The special meeting was necessary, as Roll has urged immediate construction of the project before these crews begin their spring and summer road maintenance schedules.

Plans are to get the road and concrete staging plan project complete this year so dam construction can begin in 2013.

Councilwoman Robin Benson made the motion to accept Roll’s plan to have the local crews do the work. Council President Bill Bischoff seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous.

As for the funding of the project, Councilwoman Vicky Lawrence made the motion that payment come from the International Paper settlement funds. Councilwoman Peggy Williams seconded the motion.

Local surveying company, Kootenai Surveyors, Inc., of 314 California Ave. in Libby will be paid $3,500 to survey and stake the project so construction can begin.

KSI has been instructed to survey the site with a grade of less than or equal to 5 percent.

“I think it’s money well spent,” Williams said after the vote.

As for the rest of the project, City Council members are exploring Rural Development funding that could vary from 55 to 45 loan and grant frunding to 70 to 30 percent loan and grant funding.