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Kalispell declares emergency to expedite repairs at Buffalo Hill well
Summary
The Kalispell City Council declared an emergency and authorized the public works department to bypass competitive bidding to repair the Buffalo Hill water well, the city’s largest producing well in the lower zone. Council members discussed cost, the $80,000 competitive-bid threshold imposed by state law, and funding options.
The Kalispell City Council voted to declare an emergency and authorize staff to procure contractor services and equipment without formal advertisement to expedite repairs at the Buffalo Hill water source, the city’s largest producing well in the lower zone.
Why it matters: City staff said Buffalo Hill produced roughly 2,300 gallons per minute and that a major repair is needed ahead of summer demand. Because the repair is larger than typical well maintenance and cost estimates exceed the municipal competitive‑bid threshold, staff asked council to use emergency procurement to speed the replacement of pump and motor components.
Staff presentation and council discussion City Manager Doug Russell and Susie Turner, director of public works, explained the request. Turner said the well is a line‑shaft turbine that last had major work about 20 years ago and that the components are reaching the end of their expected service life. "It's a large one... it produces about 2,300 gallons per minute. It is our largest producing well now in the lower zone," Turner said, describing both the scale and the urgency of the repair.
Turner and Russell told council that while routine repairs often fall under a budgeted maintenance line, this project is larger and current cost estimates push the expenditure over the $80,000 threshold that triggers formal competitive bidding under state law and city code. Russell said that if costs exceed budgeted line items, the city would use the enterprise fund balance and then bring a budget amendment as needed.
Several councilors discussed the tradeoff between avoiding the bidding process and meeting summer water demand. One councilor said they generally oppose emergency procurements but supported this authorizing motion so the well could be running by summer. The council president noted the state law requirement and explained emergency procurement still requires bringing the matter to council and securing a three‑quarters vote of participants at the meeting.
Council action Council member (recorded in the transcript as) Mister Donnelly moved to pass Resolution 62-40, declaring an emergency and authorizing the public works department to proceed without advertisement or bidding for the repairs at the Buffalo Hill water source; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call with all participating council members voting aye.
Funding and next steps Staff said the city has budget line items for well repair and maintenance, and that any amount over the $80,000 threshold would be handled through fund balance and a later budgetary amendment. Turner warned that lead times for ordering well components can be several months and that expediting orders improves the chance of having the well operational for summer demand.
