State approves Cabinet Heights water main expansion

The end of a utility moratorium is in sight for the Cabinet Heights area.

Bids are out for a water main project and construction could begin within a few months, according to Libby City officials.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality approved the City of Libby's plans to replace the Cabinet Heights Water Main.

The DEQ received the plans in July 2023 and the project is approved for the installation of nearly 2,160 feet of 12-inch PVC water main, as well as two fire hydrants and other project needs.

In April 2022, Libby City Administrator Samuel Sikes issued a moratorium on new hookups to the old 6-inch water main, which is currently in use. The main serves areas surrounding the Cabinet View Golf Club south of Libby.

After the moratorium was issued, the city dedicated over $1.1 million in grant dollars to the project and the city is not expected to take out any loans, according to Sikes.

Sikes told the city council that recent development in the area was beginning to impact water services for residents. The fully-tapped main requires the city to pay $2,500 annually to adequately protect the area in the case of a fire and to circumvent the overburdened water main access, according to prior reporting by the Western News.

The approval is given with the understanding that the project begins within three years of the DEQ's decision. This will be fine, as City Administrator Samuel Sikes expects the project will start before the end of 2023.

"This will depend on the contractors. If they already have projects scheduled out, which they should, start time could vary," Sikes said. "We are hoping that construction could begin within the next few months since it is a fairly straightforward project."

An engineering firm, AE2S, will oversee the bids. The firm will oversee the project alongside the City Engineer Mike Fraser, Sikes and Libby Streets Supervisor Justin Williams, on Aug. 7, Sikes said. If all goes well, the City Council will then approve the bid the same evening, he said.

During this process, the contractor will install a temporary water main to avoid any service disruptions for other users. The temporary feed will mean water users only experience limited outages during construction, Sikes said.

Developers are waiting for the moratorium to lift. Currently, six to eight homes are waiting for this line to be improved to either finish or begin construction, Sikes said.

"The land is within the corporate limits of the city, and (the city) will install city water and sewer services which could (service) roughly 70 to 100 homes," he said. "We hope that by extending the 12-inch water main so that any and all future growth can be facilitated."