City selects hydro planner

Libby City Council members have received a preliminary engineering report for the potential of the new Flower Creek Dam to produce hydro-electric power.

The city has selected C.F. Malm Engineers of Seattle, Wash., to conduct the study. Engineers from the firm, which has extensive history in hydro-electric power, will be in Libby next month to study the feasibility.

“We’re excited about the possibility,” said City Administrator Jim Hammons. “They’ll be here to give us a full-blown report in March.”

Hammons said the city realizes the limits of Flower Creek, but he admitted it would be advantageous if the city could generate enough power to pay the expense of operating the city buildings.

“Flower Creek does not flow all year, but we’ve had some wet springs that could lead to (prolonged generation),” Hammons said.

“It’ll be interesting to hear what they have to say,” Hammons said.

The cost of the preliminary report will be $17,500, but Paul Rumelhart is looking at potential grants to assist with the project.

“It could be great for the city,” Rumelhart said. “We just don’t know yet.”

In addition, the city is looking toward applying for a Community Development Block Grant to help defray the cost of the dam, which is estimated to be $8.43 million. The CDBG could provide $450,000.