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Libby administrator reports on spoils-pile plan, Spruce Street delays and reservoir leaks; requests emergency DNRC funds
Summary
City Administrator presented a 90% engineering draft for the spoils pile and said parking-lot work will be scaled to a $250,000 parameter unless more funding is found; he reported reservoir and Rees Court leaks with a proposed underwater-safe epoxy repair and said the mayor signed a DNRC emergency request for $30,000 with a $6,000 city match estimated.
City Administrator provided multiple infrastructure updates during the meeting, including a near-final engineering draft for the town’s spoils/gravel pile, a schedule update on Spruce Street construction, and ongoing work to stop leaks in two reservoirs.
On the spoils/gravel pile, the administrator said he and WWC Engineering have reviewed a 90% draft engineering and a preliminary hydrology study; the design team proposed a set of alternatives and developed an option (referred to in the record as “option D”) that uses a French drain, the existing ravine with small dams, and a large settling basin to slow water and protect groundwater. The administrator said the parking-lot recommendation cannot be as large as originally planned because work must remain within a cited $250,000 parameter unless the council secures additional funding; one later comment in the record references a $2,250,000 figure in the context of available funds.
Regarding water infrastructure, the administrator reported Rees Court leaks that were markedly reduced after on-site work and said the town has identified cracks allowing infiltration. Staff and an engineer recommended an epoxy that seals under water and is safe for drinking-water systems; city staff plan to apply a temporary fix and then pursue grant funding and more permanent repairs. The administrator said the mayor signed an emergency request to the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) for $30,000 in emergency-response funds and the city would need to provide an estimated $6,000 local match to reach the engineering estimate of about $36,000.
The administrator also updated the council on Phase 2 of Spruce Street, noting the project is behind schedule but contractors are finalizing curves and hope to complete paving and sidewalks within about a week and a half.
Separately, during general comments the administrator confirmed the water-treatment plant’s rated capacity is approximately 1.4 million gallons per day and current flows are about 1.1–1.2 million gpd; the sewer plant design capacity is about 500,000 gpd with average flows around 250–260k gpd. The administrator noted plan-investment fees (development impact fees) are charged and that an incoming hotel project is expected to contribute more than $100,000 to those funds.
Next steps: staff expect to receive a final 100% plan for the spoils pile within about 7–10 days per the administrator’s timeline and will pursue DNRC funding and other grants for permanent repairs.
