City looks to use coronavirus funds to upgrade sewer plant

By CHRIS PETERSON

Hungry Horse News

The city of Columbia Falls will leverage about $1.5 million it’s expecting in federal American Rescue Recovery plan funding to upgrade its sewer plant.

The plant needs upgrades to its bioreactor and other facilities, city manager Susan Nicosia told council last week.

It can then leverage that funding to apply for further state grants, she noted.

The hope is to complete a project that will cost about $2.5 million, she noted.

The city will also look to spend funds of tracking down leaks in the water system.

In the summer months, the leaks amount to half of the city’s water usage.

It knows where some leaks are — Fifth Avenue East North is one place. It also is losing a lot of water when the school and city itself starts to water its lawns and parks in the summer months.

When those two systems aren’t running, it amounts to 5 million gallons less per month lost.

In other news:

• Nicosia said the Community Market is considering using Marantette Park for its venue next year, when its lease runs out at the Coop. The city will have further discussions in the coming months through its parks committee. The question is whether the park — specifically the grass, can handle it.

• There has been a rash of vandalism in some city parks. The worst has been at Horine Park, where someone actually cut a tree down.

• Mayor Don Barnhart reminded folks that there is no open burning in the city. People can have a contained campfire, but they’re not allowed to burn yard waste and other debris.