Rally held to head off sewer project in Paradise

With horns blaring and banners fluttering in the evening wind, anti-sewer protesters took their cause to the streets Saturday night in Paradise.

Upset at what they feel is a proposed sewer project that is being “crammed down our throats”, many in the small town along Highway 200 turned out to express their discontent by staging a rally and caravan of cars and trucks that snaked its way through the community.

At the rally in the town park prior to the caravan, protesters such as Tim French passionately argued against the $4.5 million project saying it amounts to taxation without representation among other things.

“This is just not right and it’s not fair,” French told the group of about 30 people gathered in the roadside park. “This is just plain wrong. There are a lot of people here who just can’t afford this.”

At issue is a proposed $180 a year tax assessment for the next 40 years for each hookup to the sewer system, which has been deemed mandatory by the local Paradise Sewer Board and has support from Sanders County commissioners.

The plans, which would also include an approximately $35 a month user fee, would build a main sewer line and an underground sewage tank just west of the town.

Many in the crowd see it as an unfair tool that supports a proposed housing development on the town’s north side.

The owner of the property on which the at least 30 proposed new residences would be built, Bridger Bischoff, has remained silent on the issue and did not respond to a request for an interview by the Valley Press.

Protesters say they have been kept out of the planning process for the past 10 years, a claim Sewer Board members and county officials say is not true.

“We hope to make some noise and get more residents on board,” said protest organizer and long-time Paradise resident Lee Ann Overman. “We have a petition circulating that is gaining momentum, including from Paradise property owners who do not live in this area.”

Overman said she was satisfied with the mobile show of support, pledging the group will continue opposing the project as best it can.

The petition now making its way around Paradise has to date gained more than 40 signatures. Once enough names are on the petition, Overman said it will be presented to a judge whom they will ask to halt the project.

“We really can’t afford to hire legal representation,” Overman said. “We are hoping the petition will not be ignored.”

The resident who wrote the petition, Jina McHardue, said the lack of notice for public involvement and transparency concerning the project on the part of the sewer board are key to the determined opposition.

“As homeowners, we feel we have the right to take care of our own stuff,” McHardue said. “There should at least be a variance that would allow those who don’t want to hook up to the sewer an ability to opt out.”

French, who took part in the drive through part of the protest was visibly upset by the lack of transparency issue and the need for the sewer in the first place.

“My sewer (septic) system is working just fine,” French said. “This has been an ongoing issue for 10 years and in that time I’ve only heard about one or two public input meetings. You would think in 10 years there would have been at least 20 meetings.”

Other residents, including Cody Lampman, say costs associated with the project don’t make sense.

“You could put in a new septic system for every property in town for around $300,000,” Lampman said previously. “Spending this much on a project most folks don’t want or need just doesn’t make sense.”

The protest drew the attention of a Missoula television station, which interviewed protesters and filmed the automotive caravan. Several tourists passing through the town also pulled over to watch the proceedings.