CLARK FORK — The Clark Fork City Council unanimously affirmed a local disaster emergency declaration to address severe damage caused by recent historic flooding to the city’s critical water infrastructure.

The special council meeting Wednesday followed the Dec. 11 verbal declaration by Clark Fork Mayor Russell Schenck.

"We had a significant flood happen and fortunately our levee held up but it took out East Spring Creek Road, which took out a couple hundred feet or more of the city water line," Schenck told the council. "Fortunately, line maintenance crews were on scene and quick enough to realize what was happening."

The declaration addresses severe damage to the city’s critical water infrastructure resulting from historic flooding of Lightning Creek and surrounding areas, Schenck said.

Heavy rainfall and rapid snowmelt led to significant flooding Dec. 11 on the county’s eastern side, causing widespread road closures, including East Spring Creek Road. The flooding severely damaged the city’s main water line in the corridor, rendering parts of the water system inoperable and threatening public health, safety and residents’ access to essential services, the mayor said.

Schenck said if Clark Fork opts to repair the damaged section, its engineer estimates the city would need to replace up to 1,000 feet of line and tear up East Spring Creek Road to make the repairs. The cost to fix the line was estimated at $250,000 to $350,000, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency paying for only up to half of the amount.

"So we're still looking at best-case scenario, $125,000 out of pocket to fix that water line just to turn around and shut it off next summer when we get Ninth Avenue online and working," Schenck told the council. "And that's what our goal is. So I said, to heck with that. We're not going to do that. We're going to try and move everything down to Ninth Avenue to make it work."

Schenck said the resolution recognizes the ongoing emergency, activates local and intergovernmental disaster response plans and authorizes immediate expenditures for repairs without formal bidding procedures, as permitted under Idaho Code. It also seeks state emergency assistance to supplement local efforts in protecting life, health and property.

"This affirmation by the City Council underscores our commitment to swiftly restoring vital water services and supporting our community through this challenging time," Schenck said. "We are grateful for the coordinated response from Bonner County, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state partners."

The local disaster emergency will remain in effect until expressly discontinued by the council.

In addition to the emergency declaration, the council unanimously approved a motion to allow Schenck to spend up to $50,000 for emergency expenditures without going through a formal bidding process to expedite getting the Ninth Avenue system online.

"I want to have a little bit of wiggle room when I need to talk to somebody and we need to get something else on Ninth Avenue to get it fixed up," he said. "It'll be our permanent temporary solution until the Ninth Avenue well comes online, the tank gets built and it all gets plugged in sometime late this coming summer or fall."

Schenck told the council he's working with Bob Howard, Bonner County's director of Emergency Management, on the disaster as well as on helping the city qualify for state funds toward the repairs.

Residents are encouraged to stay informed through official city channels and conserve water where possible during repairs. Portable water resources have been deployed to affected areas.

For more information, contact Clark Fork City Hall at 208-266-1315 or visit the city's website at clarkforkidaho.gov.