Council passes encroachment fees

The Libby City Council passed a resolution establishing sidewalk encroachment fees for Libby businesses at the Monday, Aug. 4 meeting at City Hall.

The resolution was passed unanimously.

The resolution outlines a $1 application fee for encroachment and an annual encroachment fee of $100 or $2 per square foot of the surface area of the encroachment, depending on whichever option is greater. The resolution fees go into effect immediately.

Resolution 1853, the resolution establishing these fees, was created to establish fees that must be paid by any busines that expands onto public property around their business. 

This resolution comes in light of opening of the new Libby brewery, Cabinet Mountain Brewing Co., which initiated a city-wide discussion on the brewery’s proposed outdoor beer garden and Libby’s businesses’ rights to use the sidewalks to display merchandise or signs. 

Cabinet Mountain Brewing Co. co-owner Sarah Dinning said she trusted the City Council would make the right decision. 

“We’re happy to pay whatever they think is a reasonable charge,” she said. “We’re thrilled that we can move forward and help business in Libby grow.”

Previous ordinances 1849 and 1850 were passed in council earlier in July, outlining the rules for encroachment and alcohol consumption for businesses like the brewery, which is set to open a beer-garden-like patio. 

City Council members discussed how far the resolution spans, and Councilmember Brent Teske said it would apply to all of the business within city limits. Councilmember Allen Olsen asked if it reached up Highway 37, to which he was told “no.”

In other business, The City Council approved approved payroll claims for July of 2014. Allen Olsen objected to City Attorney Jim Reintsma’s claims of payment for his involvement in a lawsuit between Olsen and the city. 

The Libby City Council’s next meeting will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 18 at City Hall.