Kalispell considers bonds for sewer project

Kalispell City Council on Monday will deliberate on a short but impactful agenda. The main item is the authorization of $14.4 million in bonds to pay for the Westside Interceptor Project.

The project will construct new sewer lines up the western half of the city and accommodate new annexation and development on the western and northern part of town. The bonds will pay for most of the project, with help from the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation State Revolving Energy Loan Fund.

The project also plays a major part in the $90 million 2019 fiscal year budget. The council will be holding a public hearing on the proposed budget at Monday’s meeting as well. The document can be reviewed online at http://kalispell.com/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/95.

A budget message from City Manager Doug Russell lays out some priorities that guided this year’s preliminary budgeting and put it into context relative to last year.

“The overall projections for the city are promising as we see continued development throughout town,” Russell wrote. “Continued planning and attention to the future will be important to manage municipal functions in this environment. Because of this, the budget was developed with the implementation of today’s projects, balanced with looking toward the future.”

Another big-ticket item is the wastewater treatment plant’s biosolids program. The city is currently maxing out the amount of solid waste it is allowed to contribute to the facility, which is a byproduct of the treatment process.

The continued design and construction work on the new Glacier Rail Park and rerouting of the tracks that currently cross town continue to be big costs for the city as well.

In the next year or two, the city hopes to take the current tracks through town out and replace them with a pedestrian and biking trail, completely transforming the central thoroughfare of downtown Kalispell. Components of that project continue to make up major cornerstones of the budget through different departments and funding mechanisms.

The council is not likely to vote on the budget at Monday’s meeting, but will hear public input. The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Reporter Peregrine Frissell can be reached at 758-4438 or pfrissell@dailyinterlake.com.