City Hall in need of roof repairs

The Thompson Falls City Council met this week to swear in Mayor Mark Sheets and council members Larry Lack, Shawni Vaught and Earlene Powell. Each was re-elected into their respective positions uncontested.

Sheets reported at Monday’s meeting that City Hall may be facing some significant roof repairs. A crew that was hired to extend the roof over the front steps of City Hall discovered rotting issues in the existing porch roof. The crew had been working to bring the porch out to protect the steps from water dripping down and icing over them. “It was an effort to increase safety for folks coming in,” Sheets said. After further inspection, the crew found that previous roof repairs did not fix an existing issue. The city is not sure of the extent of the damage and is looking into how bad the situation is. Sheets said the city is preparing for the worst-case scenario, requesting cost estimates that may require the need to replace the whole roof.

Additionally, there was a problem with a gutter causing water to flow into a window well, where it then filled up and overflowed into the police department in the basement of City Hall. Police Chief Chris Nichols brought a pump to draw out a lot of the water and fans were set up to help dry the basement. The city had a temporary extension to the gutter put in but hopes the problem may be addressed during the other repairs to the roof.