More cardboard, water woes for Malta City Council

The Malta City Council met for their bi-weekly meeting last Tuesday and items up for discussion included concerns about foul-smelling water from residents on social media and more problems with cardboard collection in town. At the conclusion of the City Works portion of the meeting, Malta Mayor John Demarais said he read people's concerns on social media about foul smells in the water in some residential homes in the area. "There is no issue with our water," he said. "I wish the EPA (the United States Environmental Protection Agency) would come here and test our water because our water is safe." The City had the water tested through the Montana Department of Energy Labs of Billings on February 13 according to Public Work's Eric Wittmer who said that the results came back fast. "It's not our water distribution system," Wittmer said. "If it were the City water, everyone would have it." Mayor Demarais said the water-test results are public record and will be posted on the City's website (cityofmalta.com) for January and February, and all future water testing results will be posted on that website. (Currently the website has the City of Malta Consumer Confidence Report which was conducted in December and January of 2017 and released in 2018. The document can also be found on the PCN website, phillipscountynews.com, attached to this story.) Mayor Demarais and Witmer – who attended Rural Water School training since the last council meeting - agreed that the foul-smelling water is likely being caused by the below zero temperatures which persisted for all of February and have frozen outside vents on homes and caused pipes to freeze. "I believe the problem with the water smelling bad is somewhere within the interior of the house," Mayor Demarais said, adding that he had talked with some of the people with concerns on social media and asked some for a sample of the water. The good news for the cardboard bailing in town is the old Bestway bailing machine purchased by the City is doing its job, the bad news is the truck to collect the cardboard with isn't working. "We have cardboard everywhere," said Mayor Demarais, "and complaints about cardboard blowing down the alley." Mayor Demarais said some things may need to be changed in the way the cardboard is being collected and suggested a work meeting with all involved to bring an end to the issue. Malta Parks and Recreation announced that they are wrapping up the current youth, co-ed basketball which featured 130 children ages first through six comprising a total of 15 teams, four of which from outside of Malta. "Thanks to all the volunteer coaches and the refs who came out and helped," Park and Rec Co-Director Julia Tatafu said. Co-Director Tatafu said the City's tumbling class is currently in progress with 61 children but added that it is a techniques class so there will be no showcase for those students. The class is for children, three-years-old and up and runs until April 23 on Tuesday afternoons. Though the classes have started, students are free to join the classes at any time. Upcoming classes for Malta Parks and Recreation include The Spring Dance class starting on March 18, for children ages three and up and will focus on ballet, tap and lyrical dances with a dance recital on May 10. Also being featured in the coming month at Malta Parks and Recreation will be an adult tap dance class starting on March 10, and a cheerleading session for children ages 4-through-6 starting on April 10. The next Malta City Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 12 at 5 p.m.