About Public Works

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The City of Colstrip Public Works Department provides many of the basic services that affect the daily lives of all the residents who live and work in Colstrip. Primarily, the department is responsible for all administration, planning, maintenance, and construction management for the city’s infrastructure. These are divided into four specific areas.

  The first is the Water Treatment Plant and the distribution system. The Water Treatment Plant processes 160 million to 240 million gallons of finished water. The distribution system includes maintenance of over 22 miles of water mains, 224 fire hydrants, and four water storage tanks with a combined capacity of 3.65 million gallons.    

  The Sewage Treatment Plant treats over 2.5 million gallons of water a year. Incidentally, all this treated water is used for irrigation purposes at Ponderosa Butte Golf Course. The distribution system includes the maintenance of over 23 miles of sewage mains and seven sewage lift stations.  

  Maintenance and continuing renovation of the twenty three miles of streets include plowing snow, striping of streets and crosswalks, traffic signing, storm water manholes and inlets, crack sealing, and patching of streets.     Solid waste collection will begin in February 2007. The city has purchased 450 three hundred gallon containers and 375 ninety six gallon units to be used for solid waste removal. The city will provide twice weekly pickup for all residential customers.    

  The Public Works Department is currently staffed with five employees under John D. Bleth, Public Works Supervisor. The city’s annual public works operating budget is approximately 2.97 million. Operating funds are derived from a number of sources including water and sewer utility charges, general fund revenue, and state reimbursement revenue.