Library Reopens After Open Pipe Flooding

The public can check out the Butte Public Library Saturday as it reopens after under-going four months of repairs following water damage from a ruptured pipe.

Director Lee Phillips and her staff were busy Thursday preparing the facility for Saturday’s “grand reopening.”

“There’s just a few things to tune up, but we’re ready to go,” Phillips told The Montana Standard.

The library has been out of commission since Nov. 29, when a major water pipe broke, flooding a good portion of the building. The water damaged carpeting, drywall and just over 100 books.

Phillips estimated the cleanup and repair costs at between $250,00 and $350,000 — paid by the county’s insurance.

She said it has been a challenging four months.

“Once we get people in the building and it’s being used again, that will be the greatest satisfaction,” Phillips said.

The library’s main branch has approximately 70,000 books. With a grant, the library recently purchased 10 new desktop computers, 20 laptop computers and two touch-screen computers. Hours on Friday are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The library opened its South Branch in December at the Butte Plaza Mall. Mall management donated six months of space rent free. Phillips said she plans to poll the public to see if they want it to remain open once the lease ends on June 30.

“We have to decide if it’s wanted and if we can afford the space,” she said.

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Burst Pipe Floods University

A pipe burst on the east side of Lee House on Thursday afternoon, causing the eastern and middle sections of the Lee 1 and 2 to flood with about an inch of water.

Students on those floors have reported damaged property. Wet items were sent for dry cleaning that was paid for by the Washington University. Students who were unable to sleep in their rooms because of the flooding are being relocated to dorms with empty rooms.

The relocated students will be returned to their rooms by midday Saturday. Their possessions are also expected to be returned by then.

The University had been testing the sprinkler system on Lee 2 when pipes on both floors burst. Water flowed out of the pipes for three to four minutes.

Alex Ellis, a Lee 2 resident, said he heard a noise that sounded like a “loud fan.” When he looked down the hall, he saw a pipe gushing water that was seeping toward his room. He shut his door and alerted the rest of his floormates.

“I just stood there in the water, because I didn’t know what to do,” Ellis said. “I threw everything on my bed, so I was lucky. It didn’t look like there was too much damage, but other people had some stuff [damaged].”

Chris Harris, another Lee 2 resident, said that a valve on the water sprinkler system was loose, and burst when it was tested.

“It was like a big water spout,” Harris said of the burst pipe.

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