City awards contract to improve downtown parking

Columbia Falls streets in the downtown area should see improvements sometime next year.

Council last week approved a contract of just under $799,000 with Knife River of Kalispell to improve  First and Second Street West, Second Street East, Third Street East, First Avenue West, and  Fifth Street West. 

The streets will see curb, gutter, sidewalk and stormwater improvements as well as widening to provide room for parallel parking.

The project will be paid for through city Tax Increment Finance funds.

Improving parking in downtown has been a top priority for council. The work would likely start next summer.

In related news, the city council also approved using state funds from House Bill 355 to make upgrades and repairs to its sewage treatment plant and system; replace some city fire hydrants and improve/repair the bike path along Veterans Drive from U.S. Highway 2 to 11th Street West.

The state bill provides about $360,000 for the projects. The law was designed to address existing infrastructure repairs in cities across the state.

In other news the city re-worded its business license law to comply with state law. The city no longer requires a business license, but businesses, including contractors, will still be required to register with the city before doing business. The cost is the same — $40.