Bigfork sewer funding approved

Bigfork voters approved an $8.1 million general obligation bond issue for the Bigfork Water and Sewer District in a mail-in election that concluded last week.

According to the Flathead County Election Department, approximately 506 registered voters, or slightly more than 50 percent of those in the district, sent in their mail-in ballots for the election by July 27.

Of those ballots, 392 were in favor and 114 were opposed.

Since the election had more than 40 percent voter turnout, a simple majority was all that was required to pass the bond request.

The bonds, payable over 20 years, will cost property owners in the district an estimated $71 a year per $100,000 taxable value, regardless of whether or not those properties are hooked up to Bigfork’s sewer system.

The money will fund a new wastewater treatment plant to replace the district’s aging system and allow it to meet new standards required by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality.

 A new state permit goes into effect in August, but after negotiations with the environmental agency, the district has until Jan. 1, 2013, to comply.

The total cost of the project is $9.6 million, but the district has raised $1.5 million in grants.

“We’re glad it passed and now we can get ready to go out to bid,” district manager Julie Spencer said.

With approval for funding, Spencer said the district will go forward with finalizing design for the project and getting comments from its funding agencies.

The district hopes to have the project out to bid soon and begin construction if possible this fall.