Sewer in Voters' Hands

SEELEY LAKE - The Seeley Lake Sewer Board put the fate of the proposed sewer into the hands of the voters at a special board meeting Sept. 7. The board also changed the phases to subdistricts and discussed how to get information to the voters. The route of the main pipe to the treatment facility and the possibility of an open board position were also discussed.

The present board members unanimously passed the bond resolution which, if approved by the voters, would allow the district to borrow $4,488,000. The district has already secured $8,196,333 in grants toward the estimated $12,752,333 for the construction of a wastewater treatment plant and Sub District I (Phase I) of the collection system.

The election will be done as a mail-in ballot, mailed to voters Nov. 23. Ballots are due at the Missoula County Election Administrator’s office Dec. 13.

Both, registered voters living inside the district and the owners of real property inside the district will be able to vote. Property owners who live outside the district but are registered voters in Montana will automatically receive a ballot just like registered voters living inside the district.

Property owners who live outside Montana and are registered to vote in another state must provide proof of their registration to the Election Administrator before Nov. 4 to receive a ballot. Properties owned by “trusts” or “corporations” are not eligible to vote in the election.

The Board passed a second resolution at the meeting that changed the phases to subdistricts. The phases were never legally defined. By creating the subdistricts, the sewer district is able to set different assessments for property in each subdistrict.

The change was necessary for the district to spread the cost over the entire district based on benefit. All of the property in the district will be paying for the treatment plant and sewer mains but each subdistrict will pay for its own collection system as it’s built.

The board discussed producing and mailing informational material on the proposed sewer system to all those residing in and those owning property in the district.

Board Chairman Mike Boltz alluded to the LOR Foundation providing money and personnel to produce and mail the material. The LOR Foundation has previously provided a $500,000 grant toward the sewer.

Board member Davy Good suggested that they consider having Great West Engineering (GW) go door to door with information. He felt the GW surveyors were really well received by residents when they were surveying for individual lot hookups last fall. Good thinks that the informational mailings might end up in the garbage before people realize what they are.

Boltz said that the company they have been talking to and the LOR Foundation representative have considered hiring GW but recommended doing several mailings instead.

Boltz feels that the board has gotten all the information out in parts and to small numbers of people but never all at once to the entire district.

The informational material will be discussed that the board’s next meeting, Sept. 15.

In other business, Boltz brought up that he feels there could be more costs to going up Cedar Lane and over the hill than if the sewer main followed Locust Lane across Morrell Creek. The district doesn’t currently have easements to cross the private property on the other side of Tamarack Drive where Cedar Lane ends or the high school’s property on the way to the treatment site near the airport.

The other board members agreed that they should invite GW to one of their next meetings to explore the options.

Board member Mark Butcher’s position on the board was discussed. Due to Butcher’s job, he has had a hard time attending meetings or even calling into the meetings. Butcher has yet to be present at a meeting this year with the exception of calling into the Feb. 18 regular meeting. The board talked about the possibility of filling his position with someone who was more available.

The next regular SLSD board meeting is scheduled for 5:15 p.m. Sept. 15. At the Missoula County Satellite Office located at 3360 Highway 83.