Mission mayor asks that alleys be cleared ahead of sewer project

The Town of St. Ignatius is moving ahead with a new, and much-needed sewer system, thanks in large part to a $4.6 million Environmental Protection Agency Community Grant, awarded last spring. In addition, the project is funded with $750,000 from the Montana Coal Endowment Program and $125,000 from the Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program. 

Many of the town's main sewer lines are more than 90 years old and consist primarily of aging clay pipes which are beginning to deteriorate and leak.

According to a recent notification, sent to property owners by Mayor Daren Incashola, construction is tentatively slated to begin next spring and will include replacement of major sewer mains, upgrades to manholes, and some rerouting that’s necessary to meet current infrastructure standards.

“Things are moving forward, engineers have been out doing soil samples and inspecting manholes, and they are in the processes of creating final plans and then it will go out to bid," he wrote in a recent letter to the Leader.

To prepare for the project, Incashola asks property owners to review any personal items, landscaping, fencing, storage materials or other improvements located within alley rights-of-way.

“One thing we have learned in these processes so far is that oftentimes homeowners have built fences, planted flowers, etc. in the ally right-of-way,” he wrote. “By getting this information out early in the process we are hoping it will give people the chance to move items in advance so that contractors down the road do not have to do that and in turn we will save some money on the project.”

He also asked residents to provide the physical address associated with their sewer service connection, since many utility accounts contain only Post Office information.

Those who need help identifying right-of-way boundaries are encouraged to contact Public Works director Scott Morton at 406-552-3870 or [email protected].

Updated property information may be submitted by mail to P.O. Box 103, email, visiting the town website, townofstignatius.com, or dropping details in the Town Hall drop box at 12 1st Ave.