Congratulations to District Operator Cody Osterday for winning the

Montana State Water Operator of the Year Award

at the 2024 Montana Rural Water Association Convention. 

Cody has been part of LCWSD for 13 years.

We are proud to have him leading our operation team! 

When you see Cody out and about in the community, give him a ‘high five’! 

During the 2021 Montana Rural Water Association Convention, LCWSD received the:

Best Drinking Water in Montana Award! 

This competition is part of a national Quality On Tap Campaign that emphasizes the high quality, standards, and consequently taste of rural water. Water samples were judged by a panel of experts on clarity, bouquet, and taste.

LCWSD advanced in the Great American Water Taste Test hosted by the National Rural Water Association in Washington, DC in the spring of 2022. This was the first year that Montana participated in this event. We were honored to represent Montana on a national level.

President

For the past 25 years, Director Liechti has used his extensive engineering knowledge, technical skills, and experience to assist staff in overseeing the District’s robust infrastructure system. It has been Marc and the District’s continued goal to provide safe, reliable, and affordable water and sewer service for the upper west shore community and protect Flathead Lake.

Now in his 17th year as President of the Board of Directors, Director Liechti has ensured that the District operates in a professional and trustworthy manner while always having the ratepayers’ interests at the forefront. He has advised staff and consultants while developing the District’s Capital Improvement Plans, Preliminary Engineering Reports, and other District documents. He has been heavily involved in water and sewer rate reviews for the District and has maintained relationships with important community stakeholders and regulatory officials. Thanks to his leadership, the District has maintained fiscal discipline and engaged in strategic long-term planning, allowing the District to continually invest in upgrades to its infrastructure while maintaining the lowest water and sewer rates in Flathead County. Director Liechti takes great pride in listening to ratepayers, district management, and operators in identifying ways to improve the District.

Marc graduated from Gewerbe Schule in Rapperswil, Switzerland with an education in Underground and Surface Engineering in 1985. His 40-year professional career included various roles in private civil engineering firms, including current ownership of APEC Engineering in Somers. Marc is a registered Water and Wastewater Operator with the State of Montana and manages several small water and sewer systems across the Flathead Valley.

In addition to his service at LCWSD, Director Liechti currently serves on the Flathead Municipal Airport Authority Board of Directors (which oversees the management of Glacier Park International Airport), the Flathead County Technical Advisory Committee and Troutbeck Rise Homeowners Association. He previously served as a board member and president for over 10 years with the Kalispell Legion Baseball Association.

Vice President

Roxanne and her husband Jay moved to Lakeside in 2003 and built their home in Mission View Terrace where they still reside. Roxanne served on the Mission View Terrace HOA Board in 2012, where she was put in charge of managing the water system. This was a valuable learning experience for her. After extensive discussion amongst the Board, the decision was made to turn their system over to the Lakeside Water and Sewer District for clean, reliable service and many, much-needed, upgrades.

Roxanne joined the LCWSD Board of Directors in 2014 because of her newfound passion for ensuring reliable water and sewer services throughout her community. Roxanne has enjoyed learning about the intricacies of the system, and all that goes into not only keeping the District running but expanding as well. Roxanne has very much enjoyed serving her community and looks forward to remaining on the Board for many years to come.

Member

Jim Heim was raised in the Flathead Valley, graduated from Flathead County High School & Northern Montana College in Havre, MT. During his High School-year summers, he worked on farms and ranches in the Flathead & Pleasant Valley (Marion). Prior to marriage as a young adult Jim worked construction around the Flathead and in the labor force with the Anaconda Aluminum Company in Columbia Falls, MT. After marriage, he spent 25 years with the Bell Telephone System in Washington State.

After the breakup of the Bell System in the mid 1980’s, an attractive retirement opportunity in1990, allowed Mr. Heim and his spouse Linda to return to their home county after raising their two children. After returning to the valley, Jim spent the next 20 years as Lakeside County Water & Sewer District Board member & Chair including 16 years as General Manager of the District and continues today as a member since 2016 on the LCWSD board. Jim has served as past Chair of Immanuel Lutheran Communities (Now Immanuel Living) board of directors & continues today in his 7th year on that board, also past director on the Kalispell Noon Rotary board plus numerous years on Eidsvold Lutheran Church committees and Church Council.

Jim considers his Utility management experience with the Bell Telephone System and his 28-year affiliation with LCWSD a continuing continuity of insight and understanding of utility industry technology changes, rate pressures, emerging issues, and plain old commitment to service to rate-paying customers.

Jim & Linda have six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Member

Todd, a dedicated member of the Lakeside Water & Sewer District Board of Directors since November 2018, is deeply rooted in the South Eighty Community of Somers, where he and his family have resided since 2015. Prior to relocating to Montana from Ohio in 2012, Todd expertly managed the SAP Customer Information and Billing System for the City of Toledo Department of Public Utilities.

Motivated by his wife Shira’s desire to raise their family in her home state, Todd brought his skills and experience to Montana. His service extends beyond his professional career; he is a proud US Navy veteran and has contributed to his community as a director of his neighborhood’s Property Owners Association in South Eighty. 

Currently, Todd leverages his technological expertise working remotely from his South Eighty home, where Shira educates their children through homeschooling. Outside of work, Todd is an outdoor enthusiast who relishes skiing at Blacktail Mountain, paddle boarding in Somers Bay, and swimming at Volunteer Park. He also enjoys peaceful walks with his dog at Somers Beach State Park.

Kathy and her husband Bill moved to the area in 2008. They purchased a home in Best View Estates where they currently reside. Prior to relocating to Montana, Kathy was born and grew up I Northern Illinois, where she received her graduate degrees.

Her 45-year professional career was in finance and insurance, including ownership of a commercial insurance agency. Since moving here, Kathy has been involved in many local groups, including the Lakeside Ladies Club. Kathy is currently retired and looks forward to serving the community in any way possible.

253 Bierney Creek Rd, Lakeside, MT 59922 ~ 406-844-3881