By Michael Howell
The Stevensville Town Council unanimously adopted an amended letter of conditions from USDA Rural Development concerning the sewer upgrade project to reflect the fact that the low bid for the project came in $650,000 over the original engineer’s estimate. The total estimated cost of the project was about $2.9 million. But the lowest bid for the project from Williamson Brothers Construction came to $3.5 million.
Rural Development has amended the original financing for the project to reflect this $650,000 in increased cost. It includes a new loan which would be bonded out at 2.25% over 40 years and a grant for $200,000. The Town’s contribution comes to about $57,000. Dan Johnson of Rural Development told the council that his agency was seeing bids across the state coming in higher than engineering estimates. The added cost will not affect rates until perhaps around 2020, but the effect depends upon the rate of inflation and growth during that time.
The council also approved a “recommendation of award” of the contract to Williamson Brothers Construction. The actual award of the contract is scheduled for March 19.
The council approved an amended statement of water right claim reducing its total claim from 905 acre feet per year to 805 acre feet per year. The town did this, according to Donny Ramer of HDR, because, based on the flow rate and period of use, the total amount being claimed was not feasible. 805 acre feet per year is the maximum possible that could be claimed given the flow rate and period of use. According to Ramer, the only significant hurdle facing the town in its long and convoluted effort at changing its water right claims to include the new well field is the fact that the town’s water rights were not filed in a timely fashion in 1976. The claims were not officially filed until 1994. He said the issue of late filing will be addressed by the Water Court as part of the adjudication process.
The council, in response to a request from St. Mary’s Mission, agreed to express its “intention” to consider paving the alley, an extension of Charlos Street, from Ravalli Street to Third Street. The Mission asked to have the road or alley paved at least in front of the Mission property, in preparation for the 2016 Founders Day commemoration.
The estimated cost of paving the section in front of the Mission property was $36,000. Paving all the way to 3rd Street, as recommended by Councilor Jim Crews, could perhaps double that cost. The Town takes in approximately $35,000 per year in gas taxes annually. There is currently $158,000 in the gas tax fund.
The council denied a request from the Missoula Federal Credit Union to delay collection of a $300 per lot fee for police services related to the Twin Creeks Subdivision that the bank came into ownership of following a foreclosure. The fee was supposed to be collected upon the sale of each lot but it was overlooked by the title company on the first three lot sales. The bank is now selling 27 lots to a single purchaser and asked that the collection of the fee be deferred until the lots are developed. The council denied the request unanimously.
The council approved a two-lot commercial subdivision for a property located next to Ace Hardware along the Eastside Highway belonging to John Love. Some conditions were attached to the approval that would require review and approval of any development plans. No plans currently exist.
The council approved a resolution establishing the roles and responsibilities of the mayor and the council in creation of new job positions, new position descriptions and the modification of existing position descriptions.
Councilor Crews disagreed with the proposed resolution because, in his understanding, it usurped power that belongs to the council, placing it in the hands of the mayor. He submitted his own resolution clarifying the roles of the two entities according to Montana Code Annotated and made a power point presentation to back it up.
Crews then made a motion to amend the resolution under consideration by substituting his own. That motion failed due to lack of a second.
Then Crews moved to amend the resolution by adding the references to Montana Code Annotated to it. That motion was seconded for discussion, but it failed in a one to two vote. Crews cast the lone vote in support.
The original resolution was then adopted on a 2 to 1 vote with Crews casting the lone dissenting vote. Councilor Robin Holcomb was absent.