Bigfork voters approved a $5.33 million general obligation bond to fund a new water tank and improve existing storage tanks on Feb. 26, with 63.5% of voters casting their ballots in favor of the new infrastructure. Turnout for the special bond election was 37% with 568 total voters. The bond will raise taxes by $43.94 annually per $100,000 of assessed property value.

“It’s great that we got the turnout that we needed to pass it and enough people that said yes,” said Julie Spencer, district manager of the Bigfork Water and Sewer District. “We’re just happy that they support the infrastructure in Bigfork.”

The issue was put to residents of the Bigfork Sewer and Water District because the amount of stored water for fire emergencies in Bigfork fell below requirements established by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Increased summer tourism and population growth in recent years also contributed to the need for additional storage.

“There’s areas in Bigfork where there’s a lot of timber. Fire could spread quickly. It’s nice to have sufficient storage to suppress the fire,” said project manager Jeff Cicon, with Morrison-Maierle.

The new tank will add 750,000 gallons to Bigfork’s existing 350,000 gallon supply. Additionally, the bond will fund a water main in the Ice Box Canyon area to serve the new tank, which will also act as a secondary line for the current main that runs along Montana 35.

“If [the current line] were to break or MDT needs to take it offline for period a time, the district can still supply water around that project,” Cicon said.

Finally, bond funding will also cover the cost of lead abatement for the standpipe tank located near the Bigfork High School football field. The paint on the exterior has begun to peel, which could lead to rust and structural compromise if left untreated. Paint on both the exterior and interior of the tank has tested positive for lead, so the district is proposing to remove the lead paint and replace it with a safer alternative.

Design for the project is slated to begin as early as next month, followed by bidding and then construction, tentatively scheduled from April to November 2021. Spencer noted that the construction timeline is dependent on the tank contractors, who will be coming from out of state for the project.

The district first anticipated a need for additional water storage in 2005, when development began ramping up in Bigfork, and acquired property from the Pierce family to house a future tank. They didn’t tackle the project at the time because the district had other immediate priorities, namely the construction of a new wastewater plant, that took precedent over water storage improvements. However, in the ensuing years, the district took steps forward to prepare for the project including the negotiation of a larger parcel along with an easement for the new transmission line.