City will contract out some services to Nicosia

Hungry Horse News

The Columbia Falls City Council recently voted to approve a $10,000 contract with former city manager Susan Nicosia to complete the 2024-25 budget and to administer several large grants she worked on and secured during her tenure as city manager.

The contract calls for $4,000 for the budget and $6,000 to administer the grants. The grants are large, including a $10-million-plus federal grant to rebuild 13th St West and Fourth Avenue West. There’s also a large grant to upgrade the city’s sewer and water system and a recently awarded grant for the city’s skateboard park.

The grant administration ends this year, but can be extended if need be.

Nicosia, who is a certified public accountant retired at the end of June. A committee of council members, including Mayor Don Barnhart, were expected to interview city manager finalists last week.

The city had a search for a new manager earlier this year, but he was found to have an ethics violation and was sanctioned by the state of Nevada.