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Libby council hears CDBG proposal to replace aging First Street lift station
Summary
At a public hearing the council heard consultants describe a plan to replace a 50‑year‑old lift station that serves the hospital and care centers, and to apply for a Community Development Block Grant due in October; staff said awards are likely after the new year and the application will be returned for formal authorization in October.
An initially unnamed presenter and an engineer recommended that the city apply for a Community Development Block Grant to replace the failing lift station at First Street and Montana, a facility the presenters said serves the hospital and care centers and has limited safe access.
Nicole Rudisky, an engineer with TDNH Engineering, summarized the technical need: “the lift station is old and really is a critical piece of infrastructure for the city that … should really be considered for replacement in the near future.” She said replacement would add auxiliary power and resolve longstanding maintenance and safety issues.
An unidentified presenter walked the council through the project history, noting prior grants and cost increases. According to that presenter, the preliminary engineering work and earlier grants brought the project to roughly $875,000 (after earlier design changes and ARPA and other grant funding had been applied), and additional recent awards from the legislature were described (including a $500,000 and a $125,000 appropriation cited by the presenter). The presenter emphasized that the CDBG program prioritizes low‑ and moderate‑income benefit and can fund public infrastructure such as lift stations.
Councilors asked about the city’s record with competitive CDBG and similar grants; a councilor noted the city’s recent success and asked whether the team expected an award. The presenters advised that the CDBG application is due in October and that announcements would likely come after the start of the next calendar year, and that the application before council would be brought back at the first October meeting for formal authorization to submit.
No formal public opposition was recorded. The public hearing was closed and staff said they would return with an application for the council to authorize submission.
What happens next: staff and consultants plan to prepare the CDBG application for council authorization at the first October meeting; awards, if any, would be announced after the new year.
