MT 43 News Articles View a Published Article

Water System Project Nears Completion with Additional Funding Approved
Author: Rachael Brug, Staff Reporter

Water System Project Nears Completion with Additional Funding Approved

Rachael Brug

Staff Reporter

City Council approves $138,636 engineering contract extension; budget and compliance officer vacancy also addressed

The Townsend City Council unanimously approved a $138,636 contract extension for engineering firm RPA to complete the city's water system improvement project during an August 4th meeting, concluding a multi-year initiative that has exceeded original timelines due to weather delays, supply chain issues, and unexpected technical challenges.

RPA's construction contract was originally written for 550 calendar days of inspection across two project schedules. The two schedules combined were originally estimated at 690 calendar days but have expanded to 804 calendar days due to complications that emerged over the course of the project. Among the challenges were rechlorination of wells two and three and the transmission line from the city to the new water tower, additional bacteria tests, and weather delays that prevented the anticipated overlap of the two project schedules.

The contract extension will be funded through a combination of sources: $48,636 from project reserve funds and $90,000 from the project contingency fund. Even with this drawdown, the city will retain $715,262 in contingencies for the remainder of the project.

"Considering how frustrating this has been, I think that it's miraculous that it's this small an amount—it's 1 percent," one council member remarked, noting that such overruns could have cost significantly more for a project exceeding $11 million in combined scope.

Public Works Director Eric Crusch praised RPA's work throughout the extended timeline. "They've done an outstanding job for us, inspecting and doing everything," he said, noting that the firm has documented issues promptly and provided diligent oversight. The project is currently in its final touches phase, with an anticipated online date in the first week of September, though minor delays are expected as final work concludes. Before the new water tower goes online, it will require chlorination and testing to ensure all components pass required bacteria tests.

FY 2026-2027 Budget Approved with Gas Tax Adjustment

The Council approved the city's fiscal year 2026-2027 budget following a public hearing that addressed a negative cash balance in the capital projects street fund. The issue stemmed from street work conducted during the previous fiscal year, when the city did not transfer sufficient funds from the gas tax fund to cover expenditures.

To address this, the Council approved a modification increasing the gas tax fund transfer to the street fund by $30,000, reducing the estimated gas tax expenditure from $173,000 to $23,000. This adjustment will clear the negative cash balance and position the street fund with a projected year-end balance of $10,660.

The gas tax fund, which is supported by minimal property tax assessments, will retain a healthy balance of approximately $226,383 at the close of fiscal year 2027, even with the increased transfer.

Compliance Officer Position Vacant

The city is now advertising for a new animal compliance officer after the resignation of the previous officer, whose final day was Friday. City Clerk and Treasurer Kari Williams announced that the position is being advertised full-time, though it is currently budgeted as part-time. Applications are being accepted through August 14th.

In the interim, Public Works Director Eric Crusch will function as the compliance officer within his primary responsibilities as public works director, ensuring the city is not completely without animal control coverage. "We're not completely without; we are just at minimal at this point," Williams explained.

The city is willing to consider increasing the position to three-quarter time if circumstances warrant, though Williams stated she cannot currently justify a full-time hire. The position has historically involved both oversight of animal control matters and the management of the city's animal control vehicle.

Pool Maintenance Challenges Highlighted

Public Works Director Eric Crusch provided an update on the Townsend City Pool, detailing a lengthening list of maintenance concerns that threaten its continued operation. The pump that circulates water is significantly more expensive to replace than originally anticipated, though Crusch indicated he is consulting with a pump specialist about rebuilding options that could save money.

Additionally, the pool's high chair (diving platform) is in poor condition and has been temporarily reinforced for this season but will require full replacement. The diving board has been removed from service entirely after its pivot mechanism began to fail, creating a safety hazard. Eric is obtaining bids from contractors to determine the total cost of necessary repairs.

These findings will inform the city's application to a trust board for potential funding assistance. Crusch noted that the city is also tracking pool attendance and usage patterns, including attendance at swim lessons and water aerobics, to better understand community use and help justify the facility's ongoing operation and funding needs.

The discussion touched on larger questions about the pool's long-term viability. One council member raised the possibility of presenting a referendum to voters in the next election cycle to gauge public support for investment in pool improvements, given competing views on whether municipal funds should support the facility. "Whether or not we put some kind of a referendum before the public that says, 'We need you to tell us what you want to do,'" the council member suggested, noting that vocal opponents of pool spending are dominating discussion at the expense of families who use the facility.

Public Works Director Eric Crusch emphasized that the pool remains safe. "Daily water tests the way that we're running it, that everything's always safe, always within specs," he confirmed, noting that even without the diving board, swimming and water play remain viable uses of the facility.

Additional Council Actions

Cyber Attack Alerts: The city has been receiving notices from the Montana Municipal Insurance Authority regarding cyber attacks on municipal water systems across the United States. At least 12 states have experienced such attacks, with 30 occurring in Minnesota water systems in the last week. The incidents involve disruption of automated operations rather than ransom demands, forcing operators to switch to manual mode. City Attorney Ed Guza assured the Council that the city's SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system architecture presents lower risk, and the city has obtained cyber insurance coverage through MMIA.

Fire Department: New volunteer firefighters are performing well, with one recruit, Mason, demonstrating particular initiative. Mason proactively responded to a call on the flats before being formally paged, offering to drive an ambulance so staff could focus on patient care. Fire Department staff also praised two lifeguards, Ava and Logan, for their outstanding response to a medical emergency at the pool several days after the previous council meeting. The lifeguards called 911, contained the situation, and provided comfort measures, including shade until emergency responders arrived.

Claims: The Council approved July 2026 claims for payment.

The meeting adjourned.