C. Falls council meets tonight

The Daily Inter Lake

Work on Columbia Falls' Fourth and Fifth avenues sewer and water projects is likely to cost 50 percent more than estimated a year ago.

At tonight's meeting, the city council will discuss what route to take to help cover that expected increase from about $500,000 to what potentially could be $750,000.

The price tag on work done in the city this fall showed that estimates based on work done in fall 2003 and spring 2004 may be considerably lower than current infrastructure costs.

City Manager Bill Shaw said he will recommend that the city absorb engineering costs for the project since it already has covered them, then ask the residents to cover the increases in material and labor.

Two resolutions relating to that work are on tonight's agenda, as well. The council will consider giving notice of its intent to form Special Improvement District 34 - to assess property owners for installing sewer in the alley between Fourth and Fifth Avenues and a water line on Fifth Avenue - and Special Improvement District 35 - to pay for extending water on Fourth Avenue from 16th Street to Talbott Road.

The council also will:

. Hear an update on the county commissioners' recent action to change the planning, zoning and subdivision interlocal agreement with Columbia Falls. Commissioners Gary Hall and Joe Brenneman have indicated a willingness to reconsider changes recommended by the deputy county attorney.

. Learn of efforts by the water department to locate a massive leak somewhere in the city's water system. They have been trying to locate the leak for six weeks and discovered a 13-million gallon loss between Nov. 15 and Dec. 15.

. Consider resolutions granting two applications for tax benefits on property improvements, one at 825 13th St. W. and the other at 385 Second Ave. EN. If approved, the additional tax impact would be spread out over a number of years.

. Hear a report on radio readings of water meters. The city received 50 free radio-read heads with a recent purchase of a new reader, but will need to pay the additional $125 per meter if adopted system-wide. The expense could be recovered in lower labor costs.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in City Hall.