The Town of Cascade found lead contamination in some buildings, according to preliminary reports released in January.

The town had been actively testing for lead contamination in Wedsworth Hall, Wedsworth Library and Town Hall.

After receiving preliminary results, the town found lead contamination downstairs at Wedsworth Hall, rendering the shooting range unhealthy for public use and that area was closed immediately, according to a Jan. 16 update from the town.

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Mayor Wes Seabolt told The electric that the lower level would remain locked until mitigation is completed.

The Wedsworth Trust is assessing how to fund the mitigation with initial cleanup estimates starting at $26,000.

The upstairs of Wedsworth Hall remained open to the public, according to the town.

Wedsworth Library also had preliminary results of concerning lead levels, particularly for children, according to the town.

Adults weren’t at immediate risk, according to the town, but the library was closed for mitigation and they’re awaiting those cost estimates. Seabolt said the library was closed indefinitely.

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The town was awaiting results on the Town Hall building and Seabolt told The Electric in late January that mitigation plans would be made for all of the contamination once all of the test results are received.

Commissioner Joe Briggs said that Seabolt had notified the commission about the library closure, but that as of mid-January, they weren’t contemplating changes to their management agreement with the library.

Briggs said that the town hadn’t asked for assistance, but that the county commission would likely assist with securing grants for mitigation if asked.

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The county allocated $6,000 in federal COVID relief funds to the Wedsworth Library for heating/cooling upgrades and an awning.

Seabolt and Briggs said that project had been completed. Briggs said the town had been reimbursed for the project with the federal COVID relief funds.

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Susie McIntyre, Great Falls Public Library director, told the library board during their late January meeting that more than 100 items from the GFPL had been checked out to Wedsworth and won’t be returned until they have been properly mitigated.

McIntyre said that they had renewed all of those items and were working with Nancy Royan, Wedsworth Library director, to adjust the Bookmobile schedule until the Wedsworth Library could reopen.