Board selects District Manager, continues solution search

SEELEY LAKE – The Seeley Lake Sewer District Board selected a candidate for their open Interim District Manager position and heard a presentation from a manufacturer of wastewater treatment systems at its Dec. 16 meeting.

The Board interviewed two candidates, David Losee and William (Bill) Decker for the manager position at last month’s meeting.

After a 15-minute executive session the Board unanimously voted to offer the job to Decker.

“It was a really tough decision because both of the candidates are highly qualified,” said Board President Tom Morris.

Director Cheri Thompson agreed. She stated that the reason they selected Decker was because of his Montana sewer district experience.

Decker has 22 years experience as a water/wastewater operator including eight years as the General Manager of the Sun Prairie Village County Water and Sewer District northwest of Great Falls, Montana.

The Board has been hosting a series of presenters from wastewater treatment system manufacturers to learn about options for solving Seeley’s sewer issues.

BioMicrobics Inc’s Montana Distributor Nathan Pierce presented on several systems they offer including a full community sewer, smaller cluster systems, individual systems and a system that can be retrofitted to existing septic tanks to turn them into Level 2 systems.

Pierce said the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has already approved several of BioMicrobics’ systems for nitrogen reduction for individual and some commercial uses. They are currently working on DEQ approval for some larger systems for RV parks and other commercial interests.

While the currently DEQ approved systems are rated to reduce nitrogen to below 24 mg/L Pierce said their systems are capable of reaching below the 7.5 mg/L rating. They are actively working to get that rating in Montana.

One of the BioMicrobics’ DEQ approved systems, the BioBarrier, is also rated for water reuse that could be used for irrigating non-food crops, trees, shrubs and lawns. Pierce said this opens up possibilities on properties where there might not be a suitable location for a drain field.

The DEQ approved RetroFAST system offers a unique option in that they can be fitted into existing septic tanks. Pierce said the equipment cost for this type of system is would be $3,600 per house plus shipping. He estimated installation would run between $500-$750 per house.

More information on BioMicrobic’s products can be found on their website biomicrobics.com/products

The Board is planning on discussing how to get proposals for solving Seeley’s groundwater nitrate issues at their next meeting. It is scheduled for 6 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 20. The agenda and information on how to participate will be posted on the District’s website seeleysewer.org