City Council to consider $5 million in contracts

The Kalispell City Council will vote to award nearly $5 million in bids to contractors at their meeting tonight.

Most of that sum, or about $3.7 million, is going toward sections four and five of the Westside Interceptor project. The project will install large new sewer lines that will allow for increased development to the west and north of Kalispell.

More than 40,000 feet of sewage line between 21-inch and 30-inch diameter will be constructed to carry sewage to the wastewater treatment plant on the south end of town. The $10 million project is targeted to begin in June and wrap up by December.

The work has been broken up into five phases. Most of the pipes will use gravity to transport waste, but because of topographic constraints seven pump stations are planned.

Once complete, the sewer lines will expand capacity by 4,936 developable acres, or give the city the capacity to accommodate nearly 45,000 additional people, said Public Works Director Susie Turner.

The council will vote on giving the contract for section four to LHC, Inc. That contract is worth $2,799,977.90. The vote would also give the section five contract, worth $985,731, to Downing Underground, Inc. Both contractors are Kalispell based.

The fourth section includes a tract of piping that extends north past Three Mile Drive and Four Mile Drive and ends near Glacier High School. The fifth and final section spans Old Reserve Drive between Stillwater Road on the west and U.S. 93.

Here’s what else is going on at tonight’s city council meeting:

— The council will vote on the appointment of two new members to the Impact Fee Advisory Committee. Mayor Mark Johnson is responsible for selecting the applicants, but his picks need to be approved by the council.

— The council will also vote on a resolution to authorize the sale, form and terms of issuance of $4.9 million Tax Increment Urban Renewal Revenue Bonds in the West Side Urban Renewal District.

— A public hearing will also be held to give citizens a chance to provide feedback on a proposal to expand the 49-acre Glacier Rail Park Targeted Economic Development District by 3.38 acres. The acreage included in the expansion would be annexed into the city as a result.

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