Libby residents, business can get help to fix sidewalks

Individuals wanting to repair or replace their damaged sidewalks should contact the City of Libby for a sidewalk replacement permit.

After obtaining a permit for free, individuals should familiarize themselves with the information included in the sidewalk replacement permit. Then a contractor or an able and qualified citizen can perform the replacement, the city wrote in a recent press release.

“We put in $45,000 a year for the sidewalk and curb fund,” said Samuel Sikes, the Libby city administrator.

In the end, of that $45,000, only $10,000 is allocated for private or commercial sidewalk replacements, Sikes said. Since individuals are only responsible for replacing the sidewalk, the remaining money is reserved for the city to replace corners, curbs or create handicap access.

Often contractors will bring receipts to city officials, or homeowners can pay contractors upfront and then receive reimbursement from the city's sidewalk funds.

The City of Libby will reimburse individuals $10 for every linear foot of concrete, or they will reimburse commercial properties $15 per linear foot. Reimbursements will happen on a first-come, first-serve basis until the $10,000 is gone.

"We only came really close to (the limit) once over eight years,” Sikes said.

Usually money used to reimburse people for sidewalk replacements averages around $5,000 a year, Sikes said. Still, city officials will use the surplus money to fix infrastructure where they see fit.

Some responsibilities the city bears during this process include removing old sidewalk material and disposing of it, and hauling in the base that the sidewalk will go over.

Individuals should contact the building inspector, the city administrator or the streets supervisor and each stage of the project for inspection, according to a recent press release from the city.

For more information, stop by City Hall, or call 406-293-2731.