Livingston commission adopts regional water preliminary engineering report; project estimated at about $6.5 million

The Livingston City Commission on Sept. 16 voted unanimously to accept a preliminary engineering report (PER) for a regional water project covering the Montague, Greenacres and Sleeping Giant subdivisions.

Nicole Rudisky, an engineer with TD&H Engineering, told the commission the project responds to aging, undersized mains, limited valving and several dead-end sections that reduce pressure and risk water-quality problems. "This project will add more value to the area," Rudisky said, describing an 8-inch main upgrade, additional valves and hydrants, and looping to reduce stagnant zones and allow isolated repairs without interrupting service for large swaths of residents.

The PER lists a construction-cost estimate of roughly $6.0 million for the portion that could be covered by a special improvement district (SID) and a total project cost of just over $6.5 million when a separate looping main is included. At planning level, staff and consultants estimated an average SID assessment for an average lot at about $16,470 spread over 20 years — an early estimate the team described as highly sensitive to grant awards and interest rates.

City manager "Mister Gager" said the PER fulfills a Montana Code Annotated requirement to develop a plan for extending services after annexation and will be used to pursue grants and low-interest loans, including state programs and federal sources. He and staff emphasized an aim to reduce homeowners' shares by aggressively seeking outside funding: "We are not going to move forward with construction until we get it to a point where it's affordable," staff said during the meeting.

Residents from Montague and Greenacres urged caution about mandatory hookups and affordability. Jane Gardner of the Montague addition proposed allowing homeowners to remain on private wells for household use, subject to periodic testing, rather than requiring immediate connection; she argued the city lacks comprehensive data on private well quality. Tracy Pilock, a Greenacres resident, described the financial strain of prior sewer assessments and said the prospect of another large bill keeps her up at night: "I just don't know how I make it happen to come up with either of those numbers," she said.

Commissioners pressed staff on timelines and cost-allocation mechanics. Staff said the SID boundary and assessment methodology would be set if and when the commission decides to form a district; Montana law allows several assessment methodologies and the commission would select the method with public notice and hearings. Staff also said that many grant programs operate on multi-year cycles and that, under current assumptions, construction is unlikely before 2027 unless significant outside funding is secured sooner.

The commission approved the PER by roll call after deliberation (motion by Vice Chair Newts; second by Commissioner Kale). The acceptance authorizes staff to continue funding pursuits and advance engineering toward a biddable design, with the stated goal of minimizing homeowner costs through grants and loan programs.

Next steps: staff will seek funding, complete engineering that can be advertised for bids, refine cost estimates, and return to the commission with SID boundary and assessment methodology proposals before any final decision to construct.