Public works budget deals with Central slump, Birch Point crossing

Whitefish City Councilors reviewed budget documents for the municipal court, public works and tax increment finance funds at a June 10 work session. The meeting marked the second review of the city’s $36.56 million preliminary budget for fiscal year 2014.

The overall budget shows an increase in the tax base allowing for increases in spending while keeping the tax levy rate even.

Municipal court

In his budget memo to the council, Whitefish Judge Bradley Johnson said the court is working efficiently.

“We have a good staff and we’re working well,” he said.

Included in the court budget is training expenses for both the court clerks and judge. By state statute the city is required to pay for the judge’s attendance at two yearly conferences.

The budget requests funding for both the court’s clerks to attend a state training session that is set to have emphasis on the use of a new computer software. The training is important because of the increased reliance on “paperless” data reporting, Johnson noted in his memo.

Under salaries, the court budget seeks only a cost-of-living salary increase for the judge. Johnson requested a comprehensive compensation review for each of the three court staff personnel who are non-union employees.

Public works

The public works department budget includes a long list of anticipated projects for fiscal year 2014.

For street improvements, the budget shows a decrease in spending for chipseal pavement treatments. The budget calls for $80,000 to be spent on street maintenance. In the previous two budgets, $350,000 was included for chipseals.

Public works director John Wilson said the city won’t be doing any chipsealing this year and will instead spend the $80,000 on pavement markings.

The budget sets aside funds for several improvement projects, including $20,000 for a railroad crossing quiet zone at Birch Point, $170,000 for the Dodger Lane Road extension and $100,000 for Somers Avenue reconstruction design and construction.

Also in the streets budget is $50,000 for monitoring and design work to deal with the Central Avenue slump at the south end of the street where it curves near the Kiddie Park.

“It dropped in 1997 and it also did it in the 1980s,” Wilson said. “It’s down about three inches now. We’ve been monitoring it and we want to deal with it proactively.”

In the water fund, expenditures include a number of improvement projects, several of which coincide with street improvements. About $890,00 is budgeted to be spent for water projects, including $150,000 spent to replace cast iron mains at Central Avenue, $150,000 for Columbia Avenue bridge water main upgrade and $135,000 for water main extension on Dodger Lane Road extension.

Also part of the water budget is an expenditure of $150,000 to purchase land for a new water reservoir storage tank.

Wilson said the money may not be spent this year, but he would like to begin looking for land to locate a tank.

“The project is about 10 years out before we’ll need more storage, but we’d like to look now while land is more affordable,” he said.

In the wastewater fund, improvement projects are included with expenses set for about $1.25 million.

Also in the budget is $800,000 for sewer extension at Cow Creek to Edgewood Place. The project is included as a potential improvement that could take place because of proposed 2nd Street Apartments on East Second Street.

Expenditures in the stormwater fund total about $775,000 for various improvement projects. Included in the items is $50,000 for mitigation for petroleum contamination at the City Beach boat ramp.

Under the city’s solid waste fund, the city administers its contract for trash collection and recycling with North Valley Refuse. A new contract for services was signed in May 2012 and goes through fall 2016. A 3 percent rate increase is built in for every year of the contract. Last year council decided not to pass the increase to residents and will again have to decide whether to increase rates.

Wilson said the city is working on an ordinance that would require bear resistant containers city-wide rather than just for residences north of Denver Street and Bay Point Drive as is now required. If the ordinance is approved, the cost for trash services will go up, he noted.

Tax Increment Financing

Expenditures in the TIF fund total about $2.69 million.

The total includes $543,000 to assist with infrastructure projects for a proposed hotel at Block 46.

Also part of the TIF funds to be spent is a $750,000 donation to the Whitefish High School redevelopment project. Budgeted for the Skye Park Bridge project is $600,000.

Phase II of the improvements of Depot Park is included for 2014 at a cost of $400,000. As part of the park’s master plan the park is expected to remain in open space with updated turf reinforcement, and re-grading and leveling for better drainage and event staging. A small water feature is planned, as is a 24-foot gazebo on the southeast corner.

Public restrooms constructed at the O’Shaughnessy are set for a cost of $100,000.