Libby Streetscape moving forward
by KLCB 1230 AM Libby News Radio
June 18, 2008
Despite rumors and headlines to the contrary, Streetscape is not dead and is moving forward.
The City of Libby gave its approval to continue work on the two blocks of Mineral Avenue between the Highway north to the Boulevard.
Concerns of no engineering plan, and the oversight fee too high, prompted some to think the project was dead, but Libby Revitalization's Trent Oleberg dusted off the old 2005 Welsh-Comer study as "the plan". That was the $7 million proposal for the entire Mineral Avenue. A "plan" that was rejected. It is not an engineering plan. It is a conceptual plan. Oleberg presented the council with sidewalk specs, and details of lighting and trees. The number of trees, one of the council's concerns, has been reduced from 33 in the two blocks to a total of 19.
There have been a dozen meetings over the last five years about streetscape. Tom Wood, a member of the LRI, told the council, "The public is behind the project."
Oleberg gave advice to the council quoting Peter Drucker, a management consultant, about how and when to make a decision, and Tom Wood echoed it, telling the council to "decide to either do it or not do it." But to make a decision.
The oversight fee was changed from a percentage to a fixed amount. Originally it had been 17 percent of the total project cost going to LRI to manage the project.
Oleberg pointed out that the 17 percent was not too high, as the council felt, citing Welsch-Comers management fee was 20 percent.
The Council approved moving forward with the project and the Special Improvement District. The SID will cost property owners in those two blocks $25 per lineal foot at 5 percent interest over 20 years to pay for the streetscape. The Subway sandwich shop had originally been left out of the Special Improvement District. The council decided it will be included.
The council approved a request to allow a fireworks display at the Memorial Center for Logger Days; accepted a song about Libby, composed by local musician Tom Bellicosa, who requested $100 to cover the recording fee; updated the personnel policy to limit compensatory time for City supervisory staff to 30 hours, and buying down comp time for those currently in excess of the 30 hours; and approved an increase in the contract with the County for animal control. The cost will increase from $9,000 a year to $10,800 . It is a 20% increase, but the first increase since 1994. The City provides, in addition, the land, building, and well at the animal shelter.
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Story by KLCB 1230 AM Libby News Radio, www.todaysbestcountryonline.com
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