Libby council approves engineering plans for Clark Creek ski-course parking lot amid safety and maintenance debate

The Libby City Council voted to approve WWC's engineering plans to build a parking lot at Clark Creek Cross Country Ski Course, moving the project from design toward construction after public comment and council discussion.

The most immediate public testimony came from Joe Taylor, who identified himself as "President of cross country Kooten Cross Country Ski Club," and urged the council to approve the parking because existing parking constraints limit youth programs and events. "Safe adequate parking is important to the club and the community members that use their trails and facilities," Taylor said, describing programs for youth and residents that rely on trail access.

During the public comment period resident D C Orr alleged environmental risk at the site, saying "those hazardous materials were buried in this pile you want to spread around above our water supply." Council members responded that contractors had dug four large test holes and city staff said work would stop if hazardous materials were encountered and properly remediated. The City Administrator told the council crews "couldn't even find the large chunks of concrete" reported earlier, and that the contractor conducted test holes at the corners and toward the center.

Councilors also discussed maintenance and winter operations. Council members noted the county currently plows the access and that the city's long-term maintenance responsibility could be revisited; the Cross Country Ski Club said volunteers could sometimes help with plowing but could not guarantee a permanent solution. The mayor indicated the parking lot would be city-owned and therefore likely fall to the city for ongoing maintenance unless a formal agreement assigned responsibility to another party.

A motion to approve the engineering plans was made and seconded; the council carried the motion by voice vote and directed staff to proceed with development consistent with the plans and with the condition that work stop if hazardous material is discovered.

The council did not provide a detailed project cost estimate in the public discussion during the vote (a cost estimate was provided in the meeting packet), nor did it adopt a separate maintenance agreement at this meeting. The council recorded the vote as a voice vote and the motion carried.

Next steps: staff will coordinate with the contract engineer and follow environmental safeguards stated during the meeting; construction timing will be set in future staff reports.