Board closes in on Action Plan, vice chair resigns

SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board continued discussing an Action Plan for moving forward at its July 15 meeting. In other business, Vice President Beth Hutchinson resigned her position ahead of the meeting and the Board approved a job description for an Interim General Manager position.

The proposed Action Plan is a four-page document explaining the direction the Board intends to take in the coming year. In the overview it states that the Board will focus on assembling information to inform itself and constituents about wastewater issues within the District, look into acceptable treatment methods, explore funding options and improve its communication with the public.

One goal for the next year is for the Board to “be able to more fully and accurately define the character and specific needs that should be addressed to improve and/or maintain appropriate groundwater conditions in the District.”

The Board would work to collect data and create maps including lot size, current use, ownership and type of existing wastewater treatment. Data will also be collected on alternative systems to be considered.

To improve communication, the Board will assemble an email list of property owners and tenants, reorganize its website, create a digital newsletter and give updates at the Seeley Lake Community Council meetings.

The Action Plan will be on next month’s agenda for further discussion and possibly adoption.

Hutchinson sent the Board a letter dated July 12 resigning, effective immediately. Hutchinson left the June meeting out of frustration after several Board members said they were not fully prepared to discuss the Manager’s job description, which has been on the agenda for several months.

“I believe that I can be more effective in contributing to developing an awareness of environmental issues in the area and in defining and solving recognized problems as an ordinary citizen. I will be able to pursue tasks in a more timely manner, to communicate more freely and to eliminate much of the frustration that has been building during my years on the board as work which could have been accomplished was avoided and energy and funds were wasted via various unconstructive choices associated with avoidance and a lack of accountability,” Hutchinson wrote in her resignation letter.

The Board appointed Director Pat Goodover to Vice President. Hutchinson’s term ends in May of 2022 and the Board will discuss filling it at a later meeting.

The Board approved the job description for an Interim General Manager to replace Manager Jean Curtiss. Curtiss retired at the end of June.

The Board is seeking a contractor to work approximately 10 hours a week for the next year or longer. The job description will be posted on the District’s website and the Board will discuss advertising the position at their next meeting.

“Dissolution of the District” was also on the agenda but the Board again agreed to put that discussion off until after they approved their Action Plan.

The Board’s next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 19 and will most likely be held electronically. The agenda and information on how to participate will be posted on the District’s website seeleysewer.org