City council votes to pursue grant for wastewater projects

Libby City Council voted to pursue grant money Oct. 25 aimed at funding needed wastewater improvements.

Were City Hall to receive the $600,000 community development block grant doled out through the state Department of Commerce, the dollars would go toward the replacement of a treatment plant control system and stretches of aging sewer mains. Mike Fraser, city engineer, said officials were targeting three “critical sections” of sewer main for the work.

As a match, the municipality will have to offer up existing funds from a $464,000 grant and a $125,000 renewable resource grant, Fraser told city councilors.

Mayor Peggy Williams thanked both Fraser and Tina Oliphant of the Kootenai River Economic Development Council for putting together the grant application in rapid time. Officials only learned recently that the municipality would be eligible for the funding.

“I want to thank Tina and Mike for scrambling on this to get it in on time,” she said.

Fraser shunted the thanks onto Oliphant, who he said did the bulk of the work.

“It’s been a pleasure to work with her,” he said.

City Councilor Brian Zimmerman made the motion to go after the grant. City Councilor Kristin Smith offered a second. The vote was unanimous.