Snow removal efforts shifting into gear

Amid a series of winter storms, Libby City Administrator Samuel Sikes asked for patience from residents frustrated by the pace of snow removal operations and issued a warning regarding water meters.

“It’s been a couple of years since we’ve had to plow,” Sikes said during his regular report to Libby City Council at a Jan. 3 meeting. “Please, if the citizens could give us a little bit of patience right now.”

Sikes pointed out that the city’s streets department also has two employees new to plowing. Several of the department’s pieces of snow removal equipment suffered mechanical failures, adding an additional burden on public workers in recent weeks, he said.

“Even the equipment got used to not working the past two years,” Sikes quipped.

He also asked residents to look after their water meters. While the city provides the first free of charge, a replacement model costs about $200, he said. City workers are requiring homeowners to show proof of using heat tape or insulation to protect the meters before installing them.

The municipality’s supply of meters has dwindled down to about 30, Sikes told city councilors. Officials are putting in an order for new meters, but delivery may take several months, he said.