Conrad hears stormwater update, pool posts $38,000 operating loss; council seeks applicants for several city positions

Triple Tree Engineering told the Conrad City Council on Sept. 16 that stormwater work is progressing but has encountered underground issues that may delay paving until spring.

Brad Koon of Triple Tree Engineering said engineers are working through requirements such as manhole height adjustments and that some underground work has not been without problems, though he described overall progress. City staff and council discussed the need to let compacted ground settle before final paving to avoid future failures.

Council members and staff also raised maintenance concerns at the city’s water and wastewater plants. Public Works Director Dave Zimbelman noted small leaks and ongoing general maintenance needs; the minutes do not list repair timelines or cost estimates.

Finance Officer Jodi Rogers reported a drop in pool revenue compared with last year, higher payroll expenses and "a total loss of over $38,000" for pool operations this season. Rogers said she would make an adjustment to the overall budget; the minutes record that city finances were otherwise "fine." The minutes do not provide a detailed budget line-item breakdown for the pool deficit.

Council members discussed community fundraising for the Senior Surrey project, noting a fundraiser called "Bale Out the Surrey" starting later in the month, and touched on Meals on Wheels funding. The council also discussed recruitment plans for open positions — City Clerk, Patrolman and Maintenance Worker II — and said openings would be posted on the city website, Facebook, the Montana State Job Service and possibly Indeed and LinkedIn.

The council noted planning grant availability for 2026 and encouraged staff to pursue applicable grants for future projects. No formal action or budget appropriation for pool remediation or the stormwater schedule was adopted at the meeting; these items were discussed and will require follow-up by staff.