The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1936-07-02
To
Improve City
WaterSysten1
Substantial BetteIments To
Be Made At Once By
Utility Company.
NEW RULING AS
TO FROZEN PIPES

As the result of meeting held Mon
day by the members of the Libby city
council, the Libby water committee
and representatives of the Mountain
States Power company, a definite
agreement has been reached relative
to the water situation in Libby. Briefly
stated, the company agrees to make
certain improvements to provide an
adequate and good water supply and
will assume additional obligations re-
garding the thawing out of service
pipes. The city agrees to drop all
proceedings with the state Public serv-
ice Commission and not to ask for
reduced rates for the present; neither
is the company to ask for increased
rates.
Many Officials Present
Present at the meeting were members
of the city council and Elmer Switzer,
ST.. and L. S. WEIGH, the latter two
comprising committee of citizens to
assist in negotiations. Present as lep-
resentatives of the company were = Z.
Merrill Of Albany. Ore, vice presi-
dent and general manager; John Ford,
Of Albany, rate statistician: II Fl Clel-
land, Seattle attorney George Phyfian,
Medford Ore, engineer: S. Wehner
Chicago, engineer; and E. j Driear,
local manager
Mayor McCully called the meeting
10 order and announced its purpose
was to discuss and If possible arrive at
an agreement with the water company
for the furnishing of an adequate and
water supply for the city
He then turned the meeting over to
Mr. SWitzer chairman 81 the citizens
Mr. Switzer stated that if the com
pany would build new dam SO as to in
sure an adequate supply Of good water
and if II would also take care oil he
system from main to curb
Inc, the council and The committee
would for the time being, not ask
Tor reduction in rates,
Agree to Extensive Improvements
After a lengthy discussion II was
brought out that q new dam would
sost approximately $4,000 The fol-
owing agreement was reached:
That the company will construct fa-
rilities to assure adequate water stor-
aae on Flower creek. and such reason
allie facilities as will accomplish a
.aaspnabla sedimentation Of tie water.
that said construction be undertaken
a. the earliest possible date but nai
later than within 30 days from this
date, that the company will not be
asked 10 reduce rates and the company
will not ask to increase rates in CON-
ncciion with the proposed arrangement
Definite plans as to location type and
nature Of facilities to be installed are to
be submitted to the city council and
water committee for approval prior To
their installation
AS to the distributing system the
following was arrived at.
New Service Agreement,
fa) Company to thaw all present
water service frozen between company
main and customers stop and waste
valve
~ lllut DIdAHdIlGE Je passed. IP4ulN-
ing All future service between curb
box and customers stop and waste
valve GA customers premises u be 1T
! Last five feet below surface OF glound
~ That a. ID all future instala ions
the customer shall pay f1r any thawing
III service frozen between curb box
ard stop and waste valve
fd) That the company be released III
writing by the customer ol any fire or
other damages accustomed d. the
thaWlag process.
The mayor and city council q Re
notified within the next Two weeks
when plans for dam arc ready 81 that
meeting can be called 1t that iine
Manager Driear stated thar he will
start crew to work at once sinking
test pits at the site Of the proposed
dam Ia determine the depth To bed
rock It il understood a dam AZ the
curved type Is under consideration.
Let-Up in Hot Weather
A break came last Saturday In the