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City manager outlines $2 water fee, wastewater compliance schedule and hiring needs
Summary
City Manager Holly Phelps told the commission the $2 annual water bill fee is a DEQ pass-through, outlined sewer-averaging and a wastewater plant construction timeline aiming for compliance by Feb. 2027, and listed open city positions and staffing plans.
City Manager Holly Phelps updated the Lewistown City Commission on utility charges, wastewater compliance work and staffing needs during the meeting.
Phelps said a $2 annual fee on water bills is a pass-through to the Montana Department of Environmental Quality for the public water-supply program, which funds sampling, monitoring, inspections and operator training. She noted sewer charges appear on water bills in February and said staff will schedule a committee-of-the-whole to review how sewer rates are set; she also said she will correct an unclear packet line that described the base‑rate change (she said the base charge will increase by $0.25 per EDU to $20 and will reword the packet for clarity).
On infrastructure, Phelps said the commission last fall decided to move from composting biosolids to a filter‑press drying system that will allow land application at the airport; engineers from Robert Peza and Associates are helping the city coordinate with DEQ. Construction at the wastewater plant is expected to wrap up in February, she said, and the city needs 12 consecutive months of compliant operation before it can claim full compliance — a schedule that places the compliance target in February 2027.
Phelps told the commission she has been in contact with the Department of Administration about prior audit findings and corrective measures. She said the department indicated it would forward a recommendation to lift financial withholdings to its executive committee after reviewing the city's responses; until that formal step occurs the matter remains in a holding pattern.
Phelps also briefed commissioners on dam permits (the city operates four high‑hazard flood‑control dams), the recent annual financial report filing and an upcoming fiscal‑year audit in February. On staffing, she listed open positions including public works director, police officers, a dispatcher/communications officer, street worker, recreation specialist and office clerk, and said background checks for police and dispatch candidates are ongoing. Public works is training about nine on‑call temporary plow helpers to assist during snow emergencies.
A constituent and a state representative’s aide later raised concerns about state communication regarding withheld funds; Phelps thanked the outreach and reiterated staff are working with state officials to resolve the withholding recommendation.
