|
Wednesday, 11 July 2007 |
|
Page 1 of 2 By Buck Traxler, I-O Editor
 DROUGHT VICTIM – This poor old pine tree in Keil Park has seen better days. Ground samples were sent to MSU and a report back to Rich Anderson, Public Works Director said the cause of the tree dying was drought related. I-O Photo by Buck Traxler
Aldermen Sandy Syvertson and Wally McHenry were in favor of a mechanical system while council members Gary Brown and Wendy Judisch favored a phased-in upgrading.
The city’s three lagoon cells cover about 23 acres and contain 37 million gallons of sewage. The majority of the system is 25 to 40 years old and over time has accumulated approximately 22 million gallons of sludge.
Presently, the lagoon(s) do not meet current Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) or Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards and in the past seven years there have been over 11 violation notices. The current system cannot even meet the existing or new DEQ discharge or ammonia standards and requirements.
The upgraded system is designed for a population of 4,000, which will allow for commercial and industrial growth and related residential expansion.
Recently, Rep. Denny Rehberg tentatively secured a $500,000 STAG (State and Tribal Assistance Gant) to help renovate the wastewater treatment facility.
There is approved TSEP funding (Treasure State Endowment Program) of $500,000 and the city has approximately $350,000 in reserves for the project.
Originally the facility upgrading started out as a $1.75 million project (2004) but now, current figures put the wastewater project at around $3.382 million.
During a public comment segment of the council meeting, former Mayor Byron Grubb commented on the facility improvement, telling the council, “You need to do it, you need to get off centerline and get it done.”
Brown said, “It’s a tough, tough decision and without adequate funding, this is going to cost a lot of dollars.”
He still wanted to go with a phased-in plan, “It will put us in compliance with the current permit.” He feels the city is being pushed into a system that is more than we need. “If they (EPA/DEQ) are going to push that, they need to come up with funding,”
McHenry noted, “The longer we go, the cost is just going to go up.”
Judisch said, “It’s hard to think about voting on this and then, ‘oh by the way’ it will cost you another $21 a month. We need to come up with $2 million over the next 20 years and $85,000 a year.” (In additional operation and maintenance costs)
Nancy Cormier, the senior project engineer from Morrison Maierle, Inc., said, “You don’t have a choice, you are not in compliance. I don’t know what they are, but the fines can add up.”
McHenry added, “In my opinion, you have to go for the mechanical plant. I’d hate to go through the phased-in system and then start over in 10 years.” In 2004, the estimated cost was $1.75 million.
He went on to add, “You may not be able to up grade the phased-in lagoon system to meet new compliance requirements of the DEQ/EPA.”
Mayor John Shevlin asked for quick comments from the public in attendance. Brad Berthelson said, “I’m getting a head-ache. It’s been a mish-mash for the last half hour.”
Renée Dent commented, “I don’t like it, but if we have to do it, we have to do it.” Gary Dent said, “It seems like yesterday I was paying $28, now its around $75. I don’t like it, but I’d vote for the system.”
Grubb said, “I’d go for the increase. I’m willing to pay $20 more. If you want growth, we need this.”
Finance officer Agnes Fowler noted, “We’re doing our best to come up with something. If it all comes through, (WRDA, Rural Development loan/grant, and the STAG) it will not be that high.”
She went on to say, “The cost for either phased-in or mechanical systems in the end will be the same, using only the TSEP $500,000. The costs projected, were a worse case scenario
Mayor Shevlin said, “If we had a choice we wouldn’t do it, the last thing I want to do is put a high rate on the people.”
|
|
