Council adopts Capital Improvements Plan

In February 2023, the City of Three Forks started updating its 2006 Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). At last week’s City Council meeting, the governing body took the final steps in the official approval when they voted unanimously to adopt the new CIP, a prioritized list of infrastructure projects with a schedule and funding sources.

Before the vote, Councilmember Garret Buchanan said the CIP is a good road map for the City of Three Forks.

“I think it’s nice to have a road map when we don’t know what to do next. It’s very well put together,” Buchanan said.

Three Forks Mayor Randy Johnston and Councilmember Gene Townsend described the CIP as a living document.

“I think this is going to be very important. Hopefully this Council and future Councils will go back to it and refer to it when they are making decisions on spending money,” said Townsend. “I’m very happy with it.”

The CIP states the document “is a blueprint for identifying the City’s capital needs, priorities, estimated costs, and viable funding options. The objective of the CIP is to create a logical, transparent, data-driven strategy for investing in the City’s infrastructure needs. The Plan strives to reflect City residents’ priorities and exemplify sound financial practices.”

Townsend said a lot of thinking and work went into putting together the document and thanked the people who made it possible.

The CIP includes a list of Water System Needs and Future Projects identified “as priorities to maintain, repair, improve, and plan for future needs of the drinking water system in Three Forks.” The list includes the estimated fiscal year and cost of the project.

The list includes Water System PER/Master Plan ($80,000 – 2027), Water Main Replacements ($3,043,000), Transmission Improvements ($1,375,000 - $2026), WTP Chemical Feed Pumps and Valves ($40,000 – 2027), WTP Media ($22,000 – 2028), and Well Pump and Motor Replacement ($15,000 – 2029).

The identified Water System projects, including a leak detection program and a water supply study, are longer-term projects for the City to consider over the next five to ten years.

The list for Wastewater System Needs identified as priorities are Wastewater System PER/Master Plan ($80,000 – 2024), Collection System Improvements ($2,226,000 – 2028), Upsize Collection System Trunk Main ($3,563,000 – 2029), Lift Station Upgrades ($2,490,000 – 2028), Solar Panel System at Wastewater Treatment Plant ($123,000 – 2025), Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion ($6,171,000 – 2028), City Owned RV Dump Station ($322,000 – 2026), and Wastewater Treatment Plant Sludge Removal and Disposal ($800,000 – 2028).

The Stormwater System Needs Identified as priorities are the Stormwater PER/Master Plan ($80,000 – 2026) and a Subdivision Regulations Update ($8,000 – 2026).