Support a Smart Future, Support the Sewer

SEELEY LAKE - I have watched the lively debate about the proposed Seeley Lake sewer system for some time now, with many thoughtfully constructed arguments on each side, as well as some wild rantings and conspiracy theories.

Here’s some of the basic truths I was able to distill from all of this:

There are a lot of septic systems in a very confined area, some operating properly and some failing. They may or may not be entirely responsible for ground water and lake contamination but it is certain that many of them are contributing to it. Adding more will only add more pollution and in time it will get worse.

Seeley Lake depends on growth. Many, many people are currently directly or indirectly employed by, or benefitting from this growth. Construction jobs are some of the few in the area that pay well. Construction is one of the few sections of the local economy that brings money into our community.

The Pyramid Lumber mill is another, but they seem to be unable to attract employees, likely due to the fact that there is little affordable housing.

The other main one is tourism. These sectors of our small economy will thrive on a solid infrastructure including a community sewer system. But they will slowly die without it. Young people will find it harder yet to find good employment, furthering the death of the community. Want to see what a community looks like without young people? Montana is full of them, especially eastern Montana. We call them ghost towns.

Seeley Lake had a chance to install a sewer system decades ago and voted it down. Too expensive. Then again a couple decades later. Too expensive. Guess what? If we wait, it will only get more expensive. Right now, there is an unheard of collection of grants available to make this system the cheapest that it will ever be again. If we turn it down, it will not get cheaper later.

A lot of people want to rant about a vote that turned down the sewer last year, and conclude that it put the matter to rest for all time. These people couldn’t be more wrong. That vote was yes or no for a particular funding method for the sewer. That’s it. The current proposal is entirely different and has an entirely different (and much more attractive) funding method. This funding method is probably as good as it will ever be.

Septic systems are not cheaper than a sewer system. High-density septics only pass the real cost to the next generation in the form of contamination and pollution. That’s what the last generation did and guess what? The bill is due.

Seeley Lake has a large retired population. Most of these people like this community and have many friends, social activities and love the natural setting in which they live. As they age, many will need to move into some sort of an assisted living facility. Seeley Lake has no such option and likely never will without a sewer system. Our elderly friends and neighbors will continue to move on to larger cities, and we will eventually follow them as we age, missing our community and the familiar natural environment that we love. 

It is time to be smart with our environment which our tourism industry depends on, be smart with responsible growth, which our construction industry depends on, be smart with our finances and buy while the price is low, and be smart with our future, which we and our children depend on.

Support a smart future, support the sewer.

Doug Anderson

Seeley Lake resident and retired Building Inspector for the Seeley-Swan Valley