Latest news with #GlacierGold
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalispell proposes $182M budget for fiscal 2026
May 6—Kalispell City Hall has released a $182.2 million preliminary budget for fiscal year 2026. The financial roadmap proposed by City Manager Doug Russell is about $1.5 million more than the fiscal 2025 budget approved by City Council last year. The city's general fund expenditures are expected to come in at $16.9 million, compared to roughly $16.5 million last year. Slightly over half of the general fund revenue comes from property taxes, and the fund is responsible for bankrolling most administrative and public safety operations. Departments in the general fund face inflationary and growth-related impacts, Russell wrote in his summary of the preliminary budget. The budget does not include any staffing increases in departments supported through the general fund, according to Russell. The proposed budget calls for reserves in the general fund ending balances to be 19% rather than the 20% outlined in city policy. The fiscal 2026 budget includes a handful of hefty capital improvement projects, notably the replacement of two PFAS-contaminated drinking water wells. The city is expected to tap into federally funded programs to cover the estimated $22.6 million price tag for the projects, however. As the city moves away from sending its biosolids to soon-to-be closing composting facility, Glacier Gold Composting, it is budgeting roughly $3.7 million to implement an alternative means of disposing of the waste. Officials anticipate spending $5.3 million from the city's voter-approved public safety levy in fiscal 2026. The mill levy, which went into effect July 1, 2025, is intended to boost Kalispell's emergency services, including the addition of a third fire station on the west side of town. Over fiscal 2025, money from the levy was used to hire 12 new Fire and Emergency Services personnel along with 11 new Kalispell Police Department staff. For this upcoming fiscal year, $226,000 is being staked out for two patrol cars and two detective vehicle replacements. The majority of the anticipated expenses for the Police Department are centered around maintaining and replacing existing equipment, according to Russell. The Fire Department is allocating $260,000 for a new ambulance for its forthcoming third fire station along with $216,500 for equipment for a new fire engine expected to be delivered in the fall of 2026. KALISPELL CITY Council will hold the first of a series of work sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E., to discuss the proposed budgets for several city departments. On Tuesday, councilors will discuss the general fund, Development Services and Public Works. On Wednesday, the body will look over the budgets for the Police and Fire/Emergency Medical Services departments along with Parks and Recreation and Information Technology. The preliminary budget can be found here: Reporter Jack Underhill may be reached at 758-4407 or junderhill@
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kalispell City Council to vote on emergency well repairs
Feb. 18—Kalispell City Council is expected to authorize emergency repairs to a public water well on Tuesday and likely begin its transition away from composting biosolids. Council will meet Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 201 First Ave. E. Councilors will vote on authorizing an emergency repair to the Buffalo Hill Well, which has experienced "significant operational deficiencies" over the past couple of weeks, according to a city memo drafted by Public Works Director Susie Turner. "Time is of the essence to complete the replacement and return the well to service before the high summer demand," Turner wrote. The Buffalo Hill Well is the city's largest water producer for its lower pressure zone, which is roughly anything south of Lawrence Park. A storage tank is also under construction and out of commission, making it critical to maintain the well, according to Turner Declaring the project an emergency will expedite the typically lengthy process of bidding for a contractor. The project is estimated to cost $250,000 but could reach as high as $325,000. City staff expects to have to remove the motor and pump with a large crane to assess the repairs needed, according to Turner. COUNCIL WILL also consider extending its agreement with Glacier Gold Composting so that the company can continue managing the city's biosolids while its wastewater treatment plant is upgraded. During a work session in December, councilors expressed interest in moving away from compositing its biosolids owing to public concerns surrounding forever chemicals. Glacier Gold also closed its composting facility in Olney, which may have sealed the deal on the move. The city currently sends 70% of its biosolids to Glacier Gold Composting and the rest to Flathead County Landfill, but the landfill will eventually take in all the city's sewage. But before that happens, the city must invest in new equipment to adhere to the landfill's standards. The new and upgraded equipment has a projected cost of $6.8 million, according to city documents. The upgrades are expected to be completed by 2026, and the amended agreement with Glacier Gold would expire in September 2026. The city currently pays $238 per dry ton of sludge delivered to the Glacier Gold Compost Facility. The rate will increase to $370 per dry ton on Jul 1, 2025 and remain in effect through the agreement term. Biosolids, also known as sewage sludge, are a product of the wastewater treatment process. The solids can be used to create nutrient-rich fertilizers, but concerns have grown over pollutants and pathogens that can contaminate the product, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances also known as PFAS or forever chemicals. Council is also expected to enter into an updated agreement with the consulting firm, Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, who would manage the wastewater treatment upgrades. COUNCIL WILL also vote whether to approve Mitchell Bump to the Tourism Business Improvement District. First established in 2010, the seven-member board promotes the health, safety and security of the city and district, according to Kalispell's website. Board members serve a four-year term; Bump's term would end in April 2027. "I wanted to be a part of shaping the future of Kalispell to reflect the values we cherish such as maintaining its small-town charm while embracing sustainable growth and opportunity," read Bump's application. He has a background in hotel management and hospitality. Kalispell Police officers Matthew Praetzel and Connor McKinnon will also be confirmed on Tuesday night after completing their one-year probationary employment period. Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@
