Polson water, sewer fees inch upward

Erin Scott

The Polson City Council met Monday night to discuss a few issues affecting Polson residents.

In an effort to receive a grant to repair and build city water tanks, the council also voted to increase the water and sewer fees to .15 cents per 1,000 gallons of water, and .17 cents per 1,000 gallons of sewage, said Funke.

"If we don't keep up with our rates we have a hard time getting those grants," he said. "Grants offset a lot of what taxpayers have to pay."

He said the water tanks by Hillcrest and Skyline are among the worst tanks in the city. The council is in the process of looking at bids and has not approved anything at the moment.

The council appointed James Raymond as interim city manager, replacing former interim city manager and council member Mike Lies - who was the interim manager for approximately three months.

Fred Funke, city council member, said attorney Raymond is an ideal replacement for Lies because he worked closely with Lies and has a good understanding of the responsibilities and issues facing the interim position.

"We have somebody that knows what's going on," Funke said.

The council will interview four city manager candidates Nov. 14, and the public is invited to meet the candidates from 5:30 -7 p.m. at the Polson golf course the same day, said Louis Hart, member of the special committee chosen to select the next city manager. Names of the candidates have not yet been released.

The council tabled the motion to put a berm - whose purpose would serve as a muffler of traffic noise - along Memory Lane, and will revisit the issue at the next meeting on Nov. 17, said Mayor Lou Marchello.

The council is looking at repairing Memorial Bridge and held a special meeting Wednesday at which Montana Department of Transportation representatives went into more detail on the matter.

Lies gave an update on the progress of repairs being made to gutters and curbs on 16th Avenue, Funke said during a Tuesday interview with the Lake County Leader; and the council agreed sell .3 acres of land near the Polson Bay Golf Course, which had been donated to the city.

"It's too small a parcel to build on," Funke said, describing the impossibility of developing the land. It will more than likely be sold to a family, and Funke said he doesn't know how much is will go for.