|
Item 1.F.
|
| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 12/20/2021 |
| Title: | Billings Bench Water Association (BBWA) Grant Sponsorship |
| Presented by: | Andy Zoeller, Finance Director |
| Department: | Finance |
| Presentation: | No |
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that City Council approve the sponsorship of the Billings Bench Water Association ARPA grant application to the State of Montana.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
The State of Montana has established, through its ARPA funds, a grant program that allows Local Governments to apply for eligible irrigation projects. The Billings Bench Water Association (BBWA) is asking the City of Billings to sponsor their application for a tunnel project within Billings. While the City does not own the ditch, nor have any responsibility for maintenance, our citizens and infrastructre will benefit from a properly maintained canal. Failure within this section of the canal could cause significant flooding to downtown and east Billings. Proper maintenance to the canal is essential for safety of the citizens of Billings and users of the canal.
The BBWA Main Canal runs through the center of the City of Billings and passes through a tunnel in the rims, just north of North 15th Street. The southern 600 linear feet of the 1,800 foot long tunnel is what is termed the 'timber set' section of the tunnel. This section of the tunnel is constructed of a concrete base with short concrete stem walls on the sides and timber beams and posts that support the sidewall/roof of the section. These timber beams/posts are not a permanent support structure, which the BBWA themselves have been periodically replacing ones that are deteriorated. This section of the tunnel is in need of a significant replacement effort of the posts/beams that is at a cost that the BBWA could not cover with their typical maintenance fees.
Irrigation grant applications are due by January 14, 2022 and are limited to a maximum award of $500,000.
BBWA Board President Jim Stott and the project engineer Greg Reid will be available for any questions.
The BBWA Main Canal runs through the center of the City of Billings and passes through a tunnel in the rims, just north of North 15th Street. The southern 600 linear feet of the 1,800 foot long tunnel is what is termed the 'timber set' section of the tunnel. This section of the tunnel is constructed of a concrete base with short concrete stem walls on the sides and timber beams and posts that support the sidewall/roof of the section. These timber beams/posts are not a permanent support structure, which the BBWA themselves have been periodically replacing ones that are deteriorated. This section of the tunnel is in need of a significant replacement effort of the posts/beams that is at a cost that the BBWA could not cover with their typical maintenance fees.
Irrigation grant applications are due by January 14, 2022 and are limited to a maximum award of $500,000.
BBWA Board President Jim Stott and the project engineer Greg Reid will be available for any questions.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Approve; or,
- Not Approve the sponsorship of the grant application
FISCAL EFFECTS
Grant awards are limited to $500,000. If grant funding is awarded to the BBWA, all additional costs above the grant award will be the responsibility of the BBWA.
No costs will be incurred by the City of Billings other than some minimal administrative staff time.
No costs will be incurred by the City of Billings other than some minimal administrative staff time.