The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board met last Thursday for a relatively short meeting to discuss ongoing fundraising efforts and the still vacant staff positions.
Steve Anderson, engineer with Water & Environmental Technologies (WET), said the engineering firm’s staff continue to work on pursuing grants to help cover costs of creating the preliminary engineering report, which once completed opens the door for other grant opportunities for which the board could apply.
WET staff are working through a reclamation and development planning grant application. Christina Eggensperger, engineer with WET, said they are applying for a “crucial state need” project, tying together water quality issues in the sewer district to how it affects the Clearwater watershed. Eggensperger said she feels positive about this application and the potential to use the money to help fund the preliminary engineering report.
All this initial fundraising is intended to keep the process cheap from start to finish for the sewer board.
“We’re doing this so we can get money for construction planning,” Anderson said. “You’ve gotta jump through all the hoops,” he said, including applying for planning grants like the reclamation and development grant before they can apply for construction grants.
Sewer District Board President Tom Morris said letters of support from the community or governmental organizations can be helpful in grant applications. To get more information on putting together or submitting a letter, call the sewer district board at 406-677-2559.
Anderson said potential sites for a wastewater treatment system are still being discussed, using criteria like soil data to determine which spot might best suit treatment. Preliminary ideas include a 20-acre parcel for sale south of Cory’s Valley Market, an option to purchase land associated with an R.V. Park in development south of Seeley Lake, part of Pyramid Mountain Lumber property and some Forest Service property, which was part of the first engineering report.
Both the board’s secretary and district manager job positions remain open after opening last month. The board discussed putting a job notice for both in the Pathfinder and on social media.
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