Funding on Hold Pending Rural Development's Decision

SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Sewer Board was updated on the status of their grants and their appeal to the United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (RD) at their Feb. 16 board meeting.

District Manager Greg Robertson said that the approximately $2.5 million in grants the district currently has from multiple sources would remain intact pending a decision from RD. Robertson said if RD pulls its funding, the other grants have lined up to pull their funding as well.

RD’s funding package consisted of $5.7 million in grants and $4.4 million in loans. After the failed bond election in December, RD informed the board that the funds would no longer be available.

The board appealed to RD and asked RD to review the decision to pull the funding saying that the election was flawed. The board has also argued that the election was not required by law and that the district has the community support RD required.

If RD decides to uphold its decision to pull the funding the district can still appeal to the next level in RD.

“If we get an adverse decision from [RD] then I think we need to kick it up to mediation and then potentially full blown appeal if that’s the direction [the district] wants to go,” said Robertson. “It seems ridiculous that [the district] has gotten this far and we’re on the cusp of doing it and the rug is being yanked out.”

The next regularly sewer board meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. March 16 at the Missoula County Satellite Office located at 3360 Highway 83.