Libby officials say $40,000 wastewater planning grant won’t preclude city-led improvements

City staff told the Libby City Council they secured a $40,000 planning grant for wastewater planning and outlined recent maintenance and infrastructure work, while flagging constraints that could shape future capital projects.

The city administrator said officials 'did get the $40,000 planning grant for our Wastewater' and explained the presentation made to state reviewers in Helena, where staff emphasized the city's capital improvement plan and local plans to avoid repeated requests for assistance.

Officials also described near-term operations and completed ARPA Part B projects: a bar screen, sewer controls and matching funds for plant controllers. The administrator said the city had previously authorized radio channels for police and streets crews at 40 watts but was reduced to 5 watts after a cross-border interference complaint; staff said operations would continue on the lower power given local terrain.

The council heard details of multiple recent water-main failures. The administrator described one intersection where 'you can stick your finger through the hole now' and said crews will 'redo that whole intersection of those pipes' and prepare the site for a full replacement. Staff also said they planned camera investigation and targeted repairs for a broken end cap on Pioneer Road.

In the police report, a department representative listed January calls, noting 194 this year versus 220 the prior year, including assaults, thefts, mental-health calls and 38 welfare checks. Council members asked whether the hospital-led crisis response being used while the local crisis team is 'in limbo' has affected police workloads; the representative said hospital partners are mitigating cases but that routing patients requires extra work from officers.

Next steps: staff will proceed with temporary repairs and planning work supported by grant funding; council did not approve new capital spending during the meeting.