Council approves $395,160 contract to pave Colstrip Cemetery after debate over timing and funding

The Colstrip City Council voted to award a $395,160 contract for paving work at the Colstrip Cemetery after extended discussion about costs, design choices and alternate street priorities.

Mayor (voice 1) introduced the item and asked the council to approve KLJ's recommendation. “Im requesting the council to approve the award of the bid of $395,160,” the mayor said. Council member (voice 6) moved to approve the award and a second was recorded; the motion passed on roll-call vote and the mayor announced the contract had been approved. Staff and council thanked the cemetery board for its years of work on the master plan.

Deputy engineer Ryan Brown described design elements and landscaping choices, saying the interior roundabout will use irrigated parkland grass while “we're putting native grass on the outside,” which is not irrigated, and explained temporary traffic control needs during paving operations. Brown also provided construction cost details, estimating about $20,540 for asphalt on the roundabout portion and a $73,000 allowance for a two-foot concrete buffer to protect asphalt edges.

Council debate centered on timing and funding. The mayor said the project is included and appropriated in the city's capital improvement plan, and that the city has applied to the Montana Coal Board for $200,000 and to the Colstrip Impact Foundation for $100,000 to help offset costs. He cautioned, “there's no guarantees” on external grants, but added that the city has budgeted funds and the council can proceed. Several council members and residents questioned whether cemetery paving should take priority over major street repairs elsewhere; one council member noted the city's PASER study and a planned $6 million streets program over five years.

Engineering risks were also discussed. After a geotechnical report, staff included an allowance for subgrade stabilization to address soft soils; Brown said the bid assumes additional subgrade work may be necessary depending on conditions encountered during construction. The council approved the contract and asked staff to continue pursuing external funding and to identify veterans' graves in the cemetery as part of upcoming work.

The council directed staff to proceed with procurement and follow up on grant applications; the mayor closed by thanking board members for their “dream” and long-term work on the project.