City Commissioners are set to deliberate on two crucial contracts during their December 3 meeting. These contracts pertain to the Lift Station No. 1 project, which holds significant importance for the city's infrastructure. The first contract is with Prospect Construction for the general contractor construction manager role, with a guaranteed maximum price of $7,456,692. This includes improvements to the lift station and supplemental force main. Simultaneously, a professional services agreement with TD&H Engineering for engineering construction phase services has been recommended for approval, amounting to $687,600. The total value of these two contracts reaches $8,144,292.

Commissioners' Approval of Contracts for Lift Station Upgrades

In 2021, a comprehensive feasibility study was conducted for this project. Subsequently, the city successfully applied for and received American Rescue Plan Act funds, also known as federal COVID relief funds, to support the undertaking. Design work commenced in 2022, and by October of that year, 30 percent of the designs were completed. At this stage, the cost estimate was $7.8 million. In April 2023, commissioners made the decision to adopt the general contractor construction management process, which is permitted by Montana law for complex projects meeting certain criteria. This process consists of preconstruction and construction phases.The city has already approved about $1.6 million in related contracts last month. Under the proposed contract, TD&H will continue to play a vital role in coordinating various aspects such as the general contractor construction manager process, bid package review, general construction management and inspection, as-built and operations and maintenance plan development, and archaeological monitoring service.

City Approves Contract for Lift Station Project [2023]

This is not the first project where the city is utilizing the GCCM process. In September 2023, the contractor manager contract was awarded, and by December 2023, the design had reached 60 percent. At this point, the cost estimate had risen to $16.7 million, an increase of $8.9 million. City staff informed commissioners in April that the initial cost estimates were largely based on the 2021 river crossing project, but many costs had since doubled due to inflation. During an April 2024 commission work session, staff discussed a $9 million budget shortfall that occurred during the design phase of the project.

City Adjusting Plan for Lift Station No. 1 Project Due to Cost Increases

Due to the significant cost increase, city staff took measures in April to adjust the project scope. The focus was shifted to Lift Station No. 1 improvements in the first phase, while forcemain repairs were postponed to a future second phase. In November, commissioners approved two contracts for the pre-procurement of long lead time equipment required for the project.Lift Station No. 1 was constructed in 1976 and is the city's second-largest pumping station, handling about 40 to 45 percent of all raw wastewater to the wastewater treatment plant. According to city staff, the current stormwater pumps and associated ball valves are deteriorating, and spare parts are no longer available for repairs. The bar screen, installed in 1986, has difficulties in screening rags and debris during high flows due to its large five-eighth-inch screen openings. Modern screens typically have either a quarter-inch or three-eighths-inch opening. The exhaust fan, which is essential for removing hydrogen sulfide from the building, is nearing the end of its useful life. Additionally, wet well repairs and the replacement of six sluice gates are necessary as two gates no longer operate due to corrosion, and the other four gates are approaching the same condition."The renovation of Lift Station No. 1 ensures the future reliability of pumping raw wastewater to the [wastewater treatment plant]. This minimizes the risk of service interruption, wastewater bypassing to the Missouri River, regulatory exposure, and environmental damage associated with aging equipment," stated public works staff.

City Considering Contract for Sewer Crossing and Lift Station Project [2023]

This project is the first phase, with the second phase expected in the future to construct a redundant river crossing. Completing these projects will reduce the severity of an S.O.S. situation during extreme rain events and prevent the older 1979 forcemain from breaking, as stated by public works.The Lift Station No. 1 project has been selected and prioritized under the public works capital improvements program. It is being funded with $3,854,585 of state ARPA minimum allocation grant funds, $2,000,000 of state ARPA competitive grant funds, and the remaining $5,521,597 from the city sewer treatment fund. If the ARPA funds are not spent by December 31, 2025, the city risks losing these funds and having to find alternative sources to fund the project. If commissioners delay the project, city staff noted in their staff report that it will lead to a delay in equipment lead time, scheduling issues, and an estimated $420,000 increase in overhead costs. Construction completion is estimated for the fall of 2026.

The Fairview Town Council is set to hold a crucial workshop session on Tuesday. This session precedes a final decision regarding the construction of a new religious temple by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The temple's journey to construction has been a complex one, marked by mediation and community discussions.

Church's Initial Proposal and Community Concerns

The LDS temple initially faced opposition when Fairview denied the church's original permit. Residents were concerned about its size, with the church initially proposing a 65-foot building and a 174-foot spire over 43,000 square feet. This raised questions about how such a large structure would fit into the residential neighborhood.After mediation, an agreement was reached to build a smaller temple. The new plan features a one-story, 35-foot-tall building with a 120-foot tower in the middle of the property, covering over 30,000 square feet. Church leadership expressed gratitude for the town officials' willingness to discuss concerns and reach an agreement.

Church's Statement on the Compromise

"Temples are sacred and holy places for Latter-day Saints and are considered to be a house of the Lord. We are grateful that town officials from Fairview were willing to discuss the concerns of the community with Church representatives and we were able to reach an agreement to move forward," the statement read. "A new proposal is now in place that represents a mutually agreed compromise between the Church and the town and has the support of the mayor and the council…The Church looks forward to participating in this public process and presenting this new plan for a temple on the Church’s property in Fairview."

Legal Battles and Zoning Laws

When the church presented its plans during a May 9, 2023 Planning and Zoning meeting, their application was denied by a vote of 6-1. Lawyers for the Church cited the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, arguing that these laws protect religious freedom and require the council to approve the application. They also noted that religious organizations are allowed to request zoning height exceptions for houses of worship.During two open house meetings hosted by the Church, they emphasized that the larger temple was meant to accommodate its growing population. However, many in the community opposed, maintaining that the size of the temple wouldn't suit the residential neighborhood.

Community Impact and Mediation

More than 70 people spoke during a meeting highlighting issues of zoning laws, religious freedom, and the town's identity. Many wore shirts reading, "Fairview United: Keeping it Country." The town council ultimately opposed the revised plans 7-0 during an August 6 meeting.Church and town leadership then met for a mediation session last week, presided over by former U.S. Magistrate Jeff Kaplan. Church leadership provided updated plans for the building's construction, including a lighting analysis, traffic study, drainage study, environmental impact memo, and site plan.The workshop is an important agenda item on Tuesday's town council meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. It will be a critical moment as the town decides the fate of the temple.