Wastewater Tops East Helena Council Agenda
 | Author:
Linda Kent, MT43 News Staff Reporter
MT43 News Correspondent |
Wastewater Tops East Helena Council Agenda
Linda Kent
MT43 News Staff Reporter
East Helena’s City Council moved forward with an interlocal agreement with the East Clark Street Sewer District that would allow reinstatement of the district to good standing. The agreement would tie 107 existing sewer connections back into the city’s wastewater treatment system.
The city ended a previous interlocal agreement, inked in 2017 when the East Clark Street sewer infrastructure was completed, in May of 2024 due to nonpayment of monthly usage charges. The outstanding balance of more than $22,000 was paid in June 2024.
East Helena resident Dave Jensen raised concerns that the reinstatement would place an additional financial burden on city residents outside of the district if connecting the district would necessitate expansion of the city’s wastewater treatment facilities.
Jensen objected to the 7.8 percent rate increase for the district on the grounds that city residents have already seen significantly higher increases to their wastewater bills for treatment plant expansion and improvement.
City Attorney Pete Elverum had told the council during the regular Jan.7 meeting, that East Clark Street District residents would generally be paying the same rates as all other residents. Mayor Kelly Harris confirmed that during the Jan. 21 meeting.
The council approved the reinstatement agreement, with the recommendation of Montana Department of Natural Resources Conservation’s Bob Murdo, who worked with the city and sewer district on the agreement. The East Clark Street Sewer District Board will also need to approve the agreement before it goes into effect.
As East Helena continues to grow, the East Clark Street District is just one new burden on the city’s wastewater treatment capacity.
City Public Works Director Kevin Ore provided the council with a draft schedule outlining plans to improve and upgrade the city’s water treatment plant through 2032. The plan includes work in 2025 to repair the facility’s headworks and repair piping at the plant. Also beginning this year are planning for the wastewater treatment plant improvements and groundwater disposal. Ore emphasized that the schedule was presented only to give a general picture of work to come over the coming years, rather than something set-in-stone.
