Kalispell City Council to review bids on water, sewer main replacement project

Kalispell City Council will consider contract bids to replace parts of the municipality’s sewer and water main systems that date back to the 1920s at its Tuesday meeting.

Usually gathering on Mondays, the council is meeting Tuesday, Jan. 17, because of the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E.

Most of the nearly $9 million set aside for the replacement projects will come from federal American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds. About $750,000 is coming from the city’s water and sewer funds.

The project has been split into three parts, with staff recommending different contractors for each section, based on the bids received.

According to a memo from City Manager Doug Russell to Council, five firms submitted for the project, which opened to bids Jan. 5.

In total, the contractors’ costs to complete the project exceeded the cost estimate by over $400,000, putting the projected costs at around $17,000 over the allocated funds. According to the city manager’s memo, the additional costs and construction contingency fund will be covered from the largely completed sewer main replacement project on First and Second avenues EN, which has a remaining balance of nearly $1 million.

Because replacing Kalispell's aging infrastructure has been deemed a priority, the Public Works Department is recommending Council approve the expenditures, according to the memo.

ALSO ON the council’s consent agenda Tuesday is the second reading of an ordinance that would amend the boundaries of the Westside Neighborhood Parking Management Zone. Property owners on Fifth Street West between Fifth and Sixth avenues are petitioning Council to expand the zone, which would require a permit to park on the block during school hours.

The council will also hear a report from City-County Board of Health Officer Jen Rankosky.

Reporter Adrian Knowler can be reached at 758-4407 or aknowler@dailyinterlake.com.