Council OK’s TIF projects

The Columbia Falls City Council Jan. 21 approved several projects for tax increment finance district funding in 2020. The projects include:

• $350,000 toward reconstruction of 12th Avenue West. The total project cost will be about $1.6 million and will bring city sewer and water to the former Cedar Palace. Glacier Medical Associates will also contribute funding to the project as it has bought the former Plum Creek administrative site for a new full-service medical clinic. The road itself is in dire need of repair. The city can also leverage federal economic development grant funding toward the project, city manager Susan Nicosia noted.

• $15,000 toward irrigation and beautification of South Nucleus Avenue. Peggy Newman has maintained the garden at the corner for years, but it has no irrigation. The plan would landscape the corner further and add in-ground irrigation. The Hungry Horse News will also contribute to the project.

• $75,000 for alleyway and sidewalk improvements in the city. The city has several sidewalk areas in need of repair or replacement. The same for alleyways.

• The remaining $32,500 could go toward streetlights on Nucleus Avenue and potential parking projects in the future.