Helena staff unveil FY2027 capital requests: cameras, junction and waterslide fixes

Helena city staff outlined a slate of Fiscal Year 2027 capital requests that mix small planning items with multi-million-dollar infrastructure work, naming break-in-spotting security cameras at the Transfer Station and safety upgrades at a location referred to in materials as "mini-malfunction junction." Staff presented the items as part of ongoing budget planning and the Capital Improvement Plan January 2026 materials.

The largest single construction request in the excerpts is $2,570,000 for construction of improvements to the Alder Brook and George Aggott Culvert; the document notes design-phase funding was approved for FY2025 and states the George Aggott Culvert system is "in poor condition and subjects the surrounding properties to potential surcharge events due to the eccentric layout of the pipe and the age of the culverts." The contrast between that $2.57 million project and smaller assessment items is stark: city lists ADA assessments at $1,500 and $5,000 alongside a targeted $473,000 for ADA Ramp Upgrades in FY2027.

Water, wastewater and stormwater items include a package for the Wastewater Treatment Plant to "upgrade the existing wastewater treatment plant by installing alarm and site monitoring electrical systems that will allow the City to better manage the plant," plus plans for "cyber security internet analysis and upgrades" and a truncated entry to "install fire hydrants at the wastewater metal [...]" that the CIP fragments flag for verification. Stormwater line items show Helena Ave and King Street Storm Drain Improvements at $23,000 and several dry-well improvements at Clinton & Harrison, Groschell & Thurman, and Lewis & Montana - each listed at $12,000. A paved approach to the Wastewater Treatment Plant is listed at $10,000.

Roads and paving requests include $650,000 to pave and add curb and gutter in the Utick Subdivision (Lewis, Dudley, King, Clinton, Harrison, Thurman roads), $400,000 to widen Manlove Avenue in Moontown, and $75,000 for Montana Avenue safety improvements at the Main Street intersection. Sidewalk and ADA items are presented across multiple line items: a citywide bus stop and sidewalk assessment ($1,500), a separate ADA sidewalk assessment ($5,000) with possible funding sources listed as Capital Improvements Funds, CDBG Grant and Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Grant, and Lane Avenue sidewalk and crosswalk construction at $250,000. The CIP fragment also lists a typical resurfacing program impact of "approximately 50-60 curb ramps" annually and targets $473,000 for ADA ramp upgrades in FY2027.

Smaller capital requests and fleet replacements appear in the CIP fragments: Rosemary Pool shade improvements at $125,000 and a Toyota RAV4 DPW Water replacement at $64,000 recommended to be funded from Water Enterprise Fund retained earnings. Local reporting referenced a "Project wishlist for Helena's budget: Mini-malfunction junction, waterslide fix and more," indicating staff also flagged parks and pool items for consideration.

These line items and the fragmented CIP pages will feed into Helena's FY2027 budget deliberations; several entries — notably the truncated wastewater hydrant wording, the King Street sidewalk amount, and street acceptance details for Parkvale, Sachem, Gay and Pond streets — are noted in the materials as incomplete and will require verification in the full Capital Improvement Plan.