City tackles stormwater projects

Whitefish City Council unanimously approved Aug. 5 two contracts with separate firms for engineering work on stormwater projects in the city.

A contract for $50,000 was OK’d for Robert Peccia and Associates for $50,000, as well as a contract for WGM Group was approved at a cost of $25,000.

The contract with Robert Peccia includes work for a number of areas within the city.

Evaluations of the drainage needs in several areas will be studied including the Crestwood area, Birch Hill Drive and Parkway Drive, and Armory Road near Armory Park.

All areas will be looked at for recommendations for future improvements. Any construction schedule will depend on the scope of the work and the cost for the recommended improvements, with the expectation of Armory Road which is scheduled for improvements in the fall of this year.

In addition, evaluation work will take place at City Beach related to boat bilge discharge and petroleum contaminants. The evaluation will look at how to deal with contaminated water from boats that is often released into the lake at the boat launch.

Recommendations will look at how to mitigate the problem with the goal to install improvements no later than the spring of 2014.

Work for the WGM Group contract focuses on the evaluation of drainage needs along Monegan Road north of JP Road. It includes a needs assessment, hydrologic analysis and evaluation of alternative solutions. A contract amendment to enable engineering design in the fall and construction in 2014 is expected, based on available funds.