Kalispell council declares emergency to fast-track Buffalo Hill well repairs

The Kalispell City Council voted to declare an emergency and authorize immediate repairs at the Buffalo Hill water source, allowing staff to bypass the normal competitive bidding process to expedite work.

City Manager Doug Russell and Public Works Director Susie Turner briefed the council on the condition of the Buffalo Hill well, which Turner described as the largest producing well in the lower zone and capable of about 2,300 gallons per minute. Turner said the well is a line-shaft turbine that last underwent major work about 20 years ago and is now showing its age. She told the council that lead times for large well components can be several months and that an expedited procurement was necessary to restore capacity by summer.

Councilor Donnelly moved to adopt Resolution 62-40, declaring an emergency and authorizing Public Works to proceed without advertisement or bidding to immediately acquire a contractor and equipment for repairs at the Buffalo Hill water source. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with Councilors Dowd, Fisher, Hunter, Nunnally, Carlson, Gabriel and Council President Graham voting aye.

Turner told the council that routine well repairs typically fall under an $80,000 threshold that triggers competitive bidding and council review under state law; the Buffalo Hill repair is expected to exceed that threshold because of the well's size and increased costs for labor and equipment. Russell said the city has budget line items for repair and maintenance and can use fund balance or perform a budget amendment if expenditures exceed planned amounts.

Council discussion acknowledged a general preference to avoid emergency procurements when possible, but members said restoring the city's largest lower-zone well before peak summer demand justified the emergency declaration. Council President Graham and others noted the city has used emergency procurement rarely and reviewed previous examples where necessary.