Brosz engineer warns lagoon permit snag could imperil Dec. 31 grant deadline

Rylan Limestead, an engineer with Brosz Engineering, told the Plevna Town Council on Nov. 10 that Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) reviewers have questioned the lagoon project's compliance with a two‑cell total‑retention design, creating uncertainty about permitting and the project's eligibility for a year‑end grant.

Limestead said DEQ's principal concern is that the town's lagoon lacks the volume required for total retention in a two‑cell system and that he is pursuing a formal deviation. He also reported difficulty contacting the contractor, who previously estimated the on‑site work "should only be about a week worth of work." Limestead acknowledged delays in securing approvals, saying, "I will take a lot of accountability for that," and warned that DEQ timing and contractor scheduling could jeopardize completion before the Dec. 31 deadline.

Council members asked questions about system capacity; Limestead said he would confirm with DEQ that the town's system is sized for about 200 connections but currently serves roughly 80 connections. The engineer suggested that if the permit or contractor timing prevents completion before the grant deadline, the town would need to pursue alternative funding and consult with EPEDC staff (Jaime Shanks was named as a likely contact) to explore options.

The council took no formal vote on the lagoon at the meeting; Limestead said he would continue pushing DEQ and try to reestablish contact with the contractor to schedule the work. The council did not set a new target date at the meeting.