Water issues come to the forefront at town meeting

Water was a major topic at the regularly scheduled Whitehall Town Council meeting Monday night.

According to the Town Council, the DEQ recently sent a letter regarding the plans for the town’s uranium issue. Council members voted to extend the response to the letter, which is initially due on July 16, 2016. Town Attorney Ed Guza will be negotiating the extension for the town’s response this week.

Council members agreed that they want to gather more information to fix the problem, rather than just treat the problem with a water treatment plant.

Currently only two of the town’s wells do not meet EPA standards, while several in and outside of Whitehall are well below levels required. Council members believe it is in the best interest of the residents to spend a small amount of money to look into the uranium issue, rather than a large amount to put in a treatment plant on the 2 wells. Most of the Council members voiced concerns about the cost of the treatment facility, how much it would ultimately cost the town residents, and that the town would have to greatly increase the water and sewer rate.

The Sugar Beet Row public water and sewage system deviation request was also discussed at the meeting. Council members looked at plans to have an inter-local sewer main extension ran to the area from the recreation complex. The county is waiting on the town’s approval to put the sewer line in. Council members mutually agreed the sewer line should be in a straight line and not go around the guy-wire of the utility pole. Some of the council members voiced concerns that residents that build on Sugar Beet Row may not have enough water if or when more county citizens build housing there. The Town Council voted and agreed to meet with Jefferson County to discuss concerns with the sewer system deviation request.

Water rights and the wastewater lagoon was also a major topic also at the meeting. With no water in the lagoon, and creek’s near Whitehall running low; the projection of water for the lagoon by Great West Engineering is not meeting the estimates. The lagoon is at its lowest possible level currently, which may affect some residents with water rights. Council is seeking answers to the problem by trying to contact Great West and find out how they got those estimates. Council voted not to pay Great West until the Lagoon Project has been completed. Seeding of the grass on the sides of the lagoon has not been completed yet. Town Council plans to contact Great West to get a response to their questions and try to solve the lagoon issue.

Ambulance Supervisor Tyler Steinbach stated he wanted to clarify a couple things at the meeting. Steinbach said he has received and read the Emergency Medical Dispatch protocol sent to him by Sheriff Craig Doolittle. Steinbach pointed out that both the Whitehall Ambulance Service and Jefferson Valley EMS and Rescue are BLS (Basic Life Support) services with ALS (Advanced Life Support) capabilities, and should both be being dispatched as such. Steinbach said there is nothing in the protocol which service is to be dispatched. These protocols would support both ambulance services being dispatched to calls in the service area unless a request is made for a specific service Steinbach said. The Ambulance Supervisor said he would still rendezvous with a true ALS ambulance service when it is necessary.

Also in discussion at the meeting, council members exchanged views on hiring a consultant to assist the Town with public relations concerning the Ambulance District set forth for the November ballot. Chuck Denowh is the president of The Montana Group, a political consulting firm based in Helena. Denowh said his goal would be to help coordinate a plan for a campaign to refine the core message. A majority of Town Council members feel the forming of an ambulance district would cause a lot of financial burden and issues for the towns own ambulance service. A committee of volunteers was formed to further look into the cost and weigh the benefits for the town, and to make a recommendation on whether to hire or not hire the firm. The committee is comprised of Tyler Steinbach, Maxine Samuelson, Mac Smith, Tom Jenkin and Gary Housman.

A large sum of money was donated by the Ladies of the Country Store to benefit the town’s Public Works Department. The Ladies donated $35,000 dollars to the department and received a well-deserved round of applause by the audience and council members for their generosity. Council members also officially extended the lease on the building for the Ladies till 2033, provided that the Country Store is what the building is used for.

Maxine Samuleson reported for the Pool Commission and announced the 2016 pool season pass prices. The prices for a small family pass are $120 (with 1-5 members in the family); $140 for a large family pass (6 or more in the family); $75 for a single pass (ages 13-59); and $65 for a single pass (ages 4-12 & senior citizens 60 & over). Samuelson also reported a pool inspector recently inspected the pool and everything was good except the grate sheet. The grate sheet shows when the grates were last replaced.

Council voted on and approved the list of events brought forth by the Chamber of Commerce for Frontier Days. Council asked that a walk through be done as in previous years to the Recreation Complex to assess any damages before the events scheduled there take place to protect both the town and the chamber for damages. Assistant Fire Chief Joe Granvold announced the Fireman’s Breakfast would be on Saturday, July 30th from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. tickets will be $10 each or $50 for 6. Prizes are available for raffle ticket winners, including a four man ready-to-float raft. Tickets are available at the town hall office and at local businesses in Whitehall.

Town Council unanimously agreed to pay William McGalaughlin’s insurance deductible for damages to his vehicle caused by one of the towns’ trees. The deductible will be for $500. Mayor Dale Davis said the towns insurance company would not cover the damages citing it was an act of nature that caused the damages. The tree caused $3,300 in damage to the truck during a windstorm. A Business license was granted for Dalene’ Salon and Ryan Wirth was added to the roster at the Whitehall Fire Department. Three building permits were also granted brought to the Planning Board Committee by Whitehall residents for various structures.