City will take another stab at federal grant to fix Twelfth Ave

The city of Columbia Falls is still hoping to get a federal grant to help pay for extending utilities and reconstruct Twelfth Avenue West down to the new Cedar Palace Medical Center.

City manager Susan Nicosia said last week the city was recently notified it was turned down for a Covid-19 Economic Development Administration grant.

That grant, if the city had been successful, would have paid for 80% of the project.

But instead of missing out entirely, EDA administrators urged the city to apply for a 50-50 grant, where the EDA would pay for half of the project.

The city did just that and made the deadline. It also pared back the project a bit.

Now the city will seek about $633,000 in federal funds, the city will kick in another $320,000 in TIF monies and the medical facility will pay $320,000.

All told the project comes to about $1.23 million to rebuild the street and provide the facility with city sewer and water.

The facility has opened, but right now it’s operating under a variance that allows it to use existing well water and septic tanks, which is less than ideal for a medical complex, as the water has to pass continual testing standards.

In other news:

The council agreed to write a formal letter of support for the Bad Rock Wildlife Management Area east of town along the Flathead River. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is looking to purchase the land from the Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. and preserve its 800 acres from development.

The city well project on Talbott Road is progressing. Crews are building the well house and finishing up other aspects of the project. The pump itself will be installed in December. It should be up and running early next year. The new well cost about $2 million, but will greatly increase the city’s water capacity.