Special improvement district proposed to fund streetscape
by Brent Shrum, Kootenai Valley Record
April 16, 2008
All property owners on the two blocks of Mineral Avenue between Lincoln Boulevard and Highway 2 have agreed to be part of a special improvement district to raise funds for streetscape improvements, Libby Main Street Program director Trent Oelberg told the Libby City Council last week.
The property owners are willing to be assessed $25 per foot of street frontage to support the installation of new sidewalks, lighting and trees, Oelberg told the council.
“We’re a go there,” he said. “We need a resolution on that.”
Oelberg said his organization has obtained price quotes on trees to be planted on the two blocks of Mineral Avenue and asked the council for a quick decision to allow the project to move ahead this spring. The special improvement district will cover the costs for the trees and concrete, he said.
“I think we have a wonderful opportunity to move on this,” he said. “I think the iron’s hot and we ought to go on it.”
The council, which will have to approve the creation of a special improvement district, did not take action on Oelberg’s request but agreed to put the issue on its agenda for its next meeting. Mayor Tony Berget noted that the city is working toward the construction of a new pavilion and other improvements at Riverfront Park and said the council’s budget committee will need to look at the proposal to make sure sufficient funds are available.
In other business, the council:
- Approved a draft resolution to grant an alley abandonment requested by Tungsten Holdings. The firm plans to renovate its building at the corner of Mineral Avenue and Highway 2 into a suite of professional offices and asked that the adjacent alley be abandoned to facilitate the project. The city will retain a 15-foot utility easement.
The alley abandonment will be advertised and considered for final approval at a future council meeting.
- Approved the expenditure of up to $6,500 for an engineering study to look into the installation of pressure reduction stations for the city water system. The stations are being considered as a possible way to equalize pressure across the system and solve problems with low water pressure in some areas. Apec Inc. of Kalispell will conduct the study.
- Received a report from Vicky Lawrence of the Libby Tree Board on that organization’s recent activities. The Tree Board has planted 124 trees on city property and has brought in more than $20,000 in grants and donations over the past three years, Lawrence said.
Lawrence also asked the council to consider fining a Louisiana Avenue property owner who cut down an ash tree on city property. The tree was planted by the Tree Board about 12 years ago, Lawrence said.
Lawrence noted that a city ordinance passed in 1993 states that trees cannot be planted on or removed from city property without permission from the Tree Board and allows for fines for violations. She suggested a fine of at least $200 to cover replacement costs.
The council agreed to review the issue.
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Editor’s Note: See the April 14, 2008 edition of the Kootenai Valley Record for the printed version of this story. The Kootenai Valley Record publishes once a week, on Monday, in Libby, Montana. They are a locally owned community newspaper, located at 403 Mineral Avenue in Libby. For in-county and out-of-county subscription information, call 406-293-2424, or e-mail kvrecord@gmail.com.
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