Columbia Falls tackles street, sewer projects
The city of Columbia Falls is working to check items off its to-do list.
Grant money and better-than-expected project prices are allowing the city to accomplish upgrades to infrastructure. Some of those projects have begun and others are planned during the current budget cycle.
The City Council unanimously approved its 2009-10 budget during a special meeting Monday. It previously had approved a resolution to collect 207.457 mills in property taxes.
"A year ago we wouldn't have been able to accomplish what we did this year," City Manager Bill Shaw said.
A number of grants and loans from state and federal sources have accumulated to help fund a variety of city projects. The city has spent years planning for some larger projects - they'll move forward this year.
"You've been very careful about how you spend your money," Shaw told the council. "We are taking care of our obligations better than any other city in the valley."
One of the major projects that will continue into 2010 is a massive upgrade to the sewer treatment plant. A combination of $1.76 million in grant funding and reduced construction bids for the project will help complete the project.
"We'll be able to do what we thought wouldn't be possible until 2016," said Shaw.
Early reports in the year placed construction estimates for the project at between $4 and $5 million. However, work will start this month with a bid for under $3 million for the project.
A MAJOR STREET project that began in 2007 now has a better outlook with increased funding from the state. When the city received approval on a voted street levy it had hoped to construct about 17,000 linear feet of street, but construction costs were higher than expected.
The city since has received American Recovery and Reinvestment Act money from the state that will provide about $91,000 to continue the project.
Both Veterans Drive and Talbot Road were reconstructed in 2008. After work began, crews found that the subsurface of the road was unstable and would cost more to replace.
On Monday the council awarded a contract to Schellinger Construction for almost $378,000 for the next phase of the project. Improvements will be made to Fourth Street, Second Avenue West, First Avenue East and Third Avenue East.
"That is $20,000 less than original estimates," said Shaw. "This is an excellent price."
In connection with street reconstruction, the city also has been replacing water service lines. That project cost the city about $40,000 more than expected.
Unstable soils at a number of the sites couldn't be returned because it would likely not have supported a new street. This raised costs when new gravel was brought in.
The city was forced to use cash reserves in the water fund to cover the extra cost.
'We have sufficient cash, but this will reduce the money public works will spend over the next year," said Shaw.
TWO OTHER grants will assist the city.
A grant from the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation will give the Tree City program about $31,000. That will allow tree planting along Talbot Road at Columbia Falls Junior High.
Work is now being done with money from a federal grant to make polling places accessible. Flathead County received the money and shared about $12,000 with the city to upgrade exterior accesses to City Hall.
Work at City Hall this year also is expected to include a $100,000 wiring project.