Moving forward

City Council members on Monday took the first step of improving Libby’s water infrastructure by giving a green light to the city’s engineering firm to proceed with dam and water-system improvements that could cost $11.045 million.

During its third meeting on as many Mondays, Council members gave the approval to Ryan Jones, an engineer with the Kalispell engineering firm of Morrison & Maierle, the approval to proceed with paperwork for a loan application to Rural Development, the funding arm of the USDA, that could approve up to 45 percent of the funding, or nearly $5 million.

The items for improvements include a new dam at Flower Creek Reservoir for $8.36 million, $485,000 for repairs to its water-main delivery system, which currently is losing about 70 percent of its treated water through leaks or losses, and $2.2 million for a new raw-water supply line from the new dam to its water-treatment plant, a line that will run 8,900 feet or about 1.68 miles.

The city opted against including the $1.2 million water-metering project recommended by the engineering firm that would allow for more evenly pressured water throughout the city. Currently, customers on the low end of town have adequate pressure. Customers at higher elevations experience less pressure.

“We’re committed to building a dam,” Council President Bill Bischoff said Wednesday. Bischoff presided the meeting Monday for Mayor Doug Roll who was attending a Mayors’ Conference.

“We have to replace the dam, the other items can be done later,” he said.

However, as expensive as the project is, some City Council members feel the work should be done as soon as possible.

Bischoff reiterated the agreement to have its engineering firm proceed is just that, an agreement to proceed. It is not binding, Bischoff said.

Most importantly, the unanimous agreement Monday, allows Morrison Maierle to proceed so it can meet an April 1 deadline to get the city’s application to Rural Development — the funding agency — for approval this year.

City Councilwoman Robin Benson said she is concerned about the cost of the improvements, but admitted it’s time to make much-needed repairs.

“I’m committed to fixing the city’s infrastructure,” Benson said. “We will have forums to let the public decide. We need the dam.

“This agreement just lets Morrison Maierle proceed to Rural Development,” she said.

Libby City Clerk Glena Hook estimated cost hikes to rate payers could be increases from $8 to about $16 a month.

“Those are only estimates,” Hook said. “Just estimates.”

The City Council will hold another special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday to further discuss the dam and water-distribution projects.

Bischoff assured the city would schedule a public forum to discuss the improvements, but delayed the action Monday because of Mayor Roll’s absence.