Plum Creek wants sewer, no takeover

Timber firm presents 'no annex' options in letter to C. Falls City Council

Plum Creek Timber Co. is asking for its plywood plant to be connected to Columbia Falls city sewer without having to be annexed and pay city taxes.

City council members got information on that request in their agenda packet for tonight's meeting. The meeting, rescheduled from last week because of the Fourth of July holiday, starts at 7 p.m. in City Hall.

Dana Jefferies, Plum Creek's safety director, submitted a letter to City Manager Bill Shaw referencing their earlier discussions about the plywood plant's failing septic drain field for its domestic sewage.

Jefferies offers four options - replace the existing drain field on plant property along Truck Route, build a new drain field on Plum Creek property within city limits on the south side of Truck Route, pump gray water (nonsewage water) to a new drain field that already serves the log yard office, or hook to the city's sewer main at 12th Avenue West.

He pointed out that, from an environmental perspective, the latter solution is preferred. But, he added, "Plum Creek is not interested in being annexed by the city and we would need written documentation to that effect."

If the council agrees to that, Jefferies said the plant would pay about $12,000 in plant investment and other fees, plus ongoing charges for sewer usage, and cover all construction costs and meters.

He said the system serves 70 employees working three shifts. Jefferies said no industrial waste, process water or storm water goes into the system.

Shaw backed Plum Creek's request and conditions for connecting to city sewer.

City law requires two things from out-of-city applicants wanting to connect to city sewer: They must ask for annexation and must waive any right to protest a special improvement district for water or sewer improvements.

But Shaw argued that the council has the authority not to annex, even if the waiver is signed.

And, the city manager said, the 500 gallons-a-day sewage that would be treated to city standards would protect the area's water quality. He said Plum Creek's cost to build a lift station and pipes, plus up-front city fees, probably would not be more than the cost of building a new drain field - and therefore meet the county Health Department's standard for connecting to city sewer.

The city sewage treatment plant has the capacity to take on the extra load, Shaw said.

The request comes after years of questions in the city about Plum Creek's heavy-truck use of at city roads without contributing to the tax base to fix those roads. Plum Creek also has lodged successful tax protests to have its county taxes lowered over the years.

The council also will:

. Certify results of the June 26 $1.1 million street levy, which passed on a 434-424 vote, and direct Shaw to proceed with engineering for the project.

. Hear Shaw's proposal to investigate buying 28 acres of land for a city park along the west bank of the Flathead River, north of the U.S. 2 bridge. The current owner wants to net $945,000 from the sale.

. Consider city attorney Eric Kaplan's request to be reimbursed $440 for airfare, lodging and meals at the League of Cities and Towns annual meeting in Billings on May 9-11. His contract, in effect through December 2009, rolls all expenses into his base fee and does not allow for such reimbursements. Kaplan has not been paid for such expenses since he requested that base-fee arrangement when the contract was updated several years ago.

. Decide whether to accept the streets and utilities installed at the Wildcat Estates subdivision on Talbott Road just south of Ruder Elementary, and grant final plat approval.

. Consider a change to the zoning code regarding fences on commercial property.

. Give first reading to an ordinance regulating open space in Cedar Pointe Estates, a housing development under way at the south end of Second Avenue West along the Flathead River. Landowners would be responsible for maintaining the space and would be taxed proportionally.

. Discuss absenteeism from council meetings. Council member Mike Shepard said constituents raised concerns about council member Charlie McCubbins' long out-of-town stays for his work. Shepard tallied absences from the 57 council meetings between January 2005 and June 4, 2007 - 24 for McCubbins, 12 for Mayor Jolie Fish, and seven for himself, the third-highest absentee rate. Other council members missed five meetings or fewer. By state law, a council seat is considered vacant when the member lives outside city limits or is gone continuously for 10 days or more without council consent.

. Consider preliminary plat approval for Hillside Views.

. Accept Police Commission certificates of qualifications, promote officer Steve Hughes to detective rank, and appoint Gary Stansberry as a new probationary officer.

. Call for bids to resurface city tennis courts.