Engineering Documents Are Out; Take the Time and Effort to Study Them

SEELEY LAKE - Rumor has it that critical engineering documents, revealing the design, actual plan components and budget for the proposed sewer, are finally in the hands of the sewer board. Can that group demonstrate the integrity, maturity and confidence needed to provide constituents the time to access, review and develop questions regarding their proposed project now that “full” engineering information has been delivered to them?

While each property owner (and interested renter) may not feel fully qualified to analyze the entire set of documents, collectively we should have the ability and common sense to spot problem areas. It is common practice for project directors at all public levels to make such information available to communities. You might be surprised at how many kinks ordinary people identify to everyone’s benefit.

Minimally, property owners can study the intentions for the installation of sewer collection lines that could run over their own land. The board and sewer supporters have consistently said that having a sewer will free up options for expansion of current housing as well as opportunities to sub-divide lots permitting the construction of low-income housing. Where individual sewer lines run will definitely impact any such dreams.

Typically the board’s desire is to minimize construction costs by running hook-up lines in the shortest path possible. You need to see how your line is set to run to your dwelling. What will be in the way of digging through your property using the shortest path? Construction to the depth necessary will obviously cause a mess. What will be involved in destroying (a requirement) your existing septic system? You are the one who will need to deal with repairs to the area above the trench and any other areas since the board cut property restoration costs in an attempt to make sewer costs look lower.

You need to find out how deep you sewer line will be installed, what other underground utilities will be in the way and thus impacted to what extent? What improvements (lawn, trees and shrubs, sidewalks, decks or patios, driveways, fencing, etc.) will lie in the pathway and be torn up? If you care about your investment in these amenities, their restoration represents a hidden cost for you that needs to added to any proposed monthly sewer charges.

A household sewage grinder seems to be part of the installation and you will be responsible for its maintenance. Where is this to be located? How will you access it if there are problems? What additional costs will there be for wiring and increases in electrical use charges?

Once you have examined your own property, you may become emboldened to look over other information that can be found in the engineering documents. You would be surprised what the non-professional can grasp if he or she mentally travels through the district and thinks about various conditions and impacts.

You’d be smart to make the effort to attend the board meeting this Thursday, Oct. 19th. You need to stand up for yourself and the district. You need to insist that sufficient physical engineering plans be made available throughout the town (including sewer related offices, library- including some that can be checked out for a few days, the post office, local businesses where people can sit and review, etc.) as well as having the ENTIRE set of information online to accommodate people who are out of town.

You need to make sure that sufficient time for review, question-asking, solicitation of estimates for property repair and possibly the board’s modifying a few things is made available.

A fair schedule would look something like this:

1. Property owners access and review information (1 month).

2. Date for rescheduled public information meeting (mid-November) where questions can be asked from the floor.

3. Formal hearing with board (late November) where questions and statements can go on the record and format/directions for Notice and Protest process are made clear.

4. Regular board meeting (December) where proposals for changes can be addressed, through discussion and the board-voting in an open meeting.

5. Notice and Protest process is implemented (January- with Notices postmarked Jan. 2, 2018 and protest letters being postmarked by January 31, 2018).

6. Protest letters counted (February 13, 2018) to permit time for any letters to get delivered.

See additional information on Facebook: Seeley/Clearwater Wastewater Options.

You need to stand up for doing things in an equitable and responsible manner!