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City outlines $2.6–$2.9 million plan and funding options to repair lower reservoir
Summary
City Administrator Sam Sykes told the council the lower reservoir held up to current runoff but needs a northern wall repair estimated at roughly $2.6–$2.88 million; officials are pursuing federal disaster reimbursement, state emergency funds, USDA grants and an RFQ for engineering this week.
City Administrator Sam Sykes told the Libby City Council that the lower reservoir is "holding up well to the current runoff levels" but needs repair and replacement of the northern wall.
Sykes said the city will issue a request for qualifications this week for geotechnical and dam-certified engineers to design the work. He estimated the cost to restore the lower reservoir to its prior functional capacity at roughly $2.6 million to $2.88 million.
Sykes described three funding paths the city is pursuing: a federal disaster-recovery (DR) declaration that would reimburse emergency protective measures and damaged infrastructure; a state emergency funding request through Montana DEES to seek reimbursement of $918,000 the city has already spent and a possible additional $500,000; and a joint meeting with USDA Rural Development and Montana DEES to explore USDA grant support with state funding as a match. He said the chance of DR reimbursement is uncertain because "there's over 25 disaster recovery declarations currently sitting on [the President's] desk."
Sykes also said the city hopes USDA RD could cover up to $500,000 via a grant when repair and replacement work begins. He reported an earlier $918,000 already spent on emergency protective measures at the lower reservoir and noted state emergency funds are limited and allocated across many communities.
In addition to the reservoir update, Sykes said he submitted a $2.5 million Community Project Funding request for repairs to the water filtration tanks; the request has been selected to move forward to the House Appropriations Committee. He cautioned that project requests are often reduced as they move through the federal process.
Next steps: the city will advertise the RFQ for engineering services this week and has scheduled follow-up meetings with state and federal agencies to clarify funding availability and timing. Council and staff said they will return with additional cost details and funding options as those conversations progress.
