Commissioner offers meetings with sewer protesters

What started out looking like a very contentious meeting in Paradise Friday night ended on a cautiously optimistic note, with County Commissioner Carol Brooker offering to meet one-on-one with anti-sewer protesters.

The offer was made to allow frustrated residents of this small town a chance to speak with one of those who will have final say in whether a $4.5 million sewer project goes forward.

The meeting, held at the Paradise Community Center, was the latest in a series of meetings and protest rallies involving the proposed sewage system, with those opposed vociferously repeating their claim that the Paradise Sewer Board has not been transparent in their plans.

Protesters also vented their anger about the $180 annual fee that would be charged to each lot owner in the town to pay off approximately $770,000 in loans that would be needed to complete financing of the system.

“I’m offering to meet individually here in Paradise with all of you to educate me about your concerns,” Brooker told the gathering of approximately 40 people. “I’ll do whatever it takes to meet and listen to everyone who has a concern.”

Those face to face meetings were tentatively set to begin the early part of September.

The project, which would also include approximately $35 a month in sewer user fees, would create a collection system that would require each property owner in the town to hook into.

Sewer Board officials assured the crowd that no deal has been struck and no plans have been established to proceed with the construction, although preliminary plans call for construction to begin in March 2021 and be completed by mid-November.

The system, which would include a large underground treatment and storage facility, is necessary proponents say, to keep the town from dying and to protect ground water quality.

Currently there are only two official businesses in the town: a second hand/antique store and the American Legion bar and grill.

Proponents spoke of the time several years ago when there was a grocery store, gas station, two bars and at least one café located along Montana 200, which runs through the unincorporated town.

Also at stake and contention is a planned development on the northern edge of the town on which landowner Bridger Bischoff says he would like to build several residential dwellings.

“Lots of people in this town just can’t afford anything like this,” said Paradise resident Danny Risland. “Lots of those people have signed the petition to stop it. Paying on this thing will never end.”

Risland and others insist the cost of replacing every septic tank system in town would be far less expensive.

Lee Ann Overman, a leader of the anti-sewer movement which has sprouted “No Sewer” signs throughout the town, repeated her stance that not letting the residents know about meetings and plans remains a heated topic of debate.

“You guys don’t listen to us,” Overman told Brooker and the Sewer Board. “You never let us vote on it. You are trying to hide meetings from us. We have a petition that has now been signed by more than half the landowners of this town and they do not want approval of this project.”

Overman then told Board president Sunny Chase she and the board have been lying about the project and can’t be trusted. She also admonished Commissioner Brooker about working for all the people.

“I do care about your concerns,” Brooker shot back. “I am here and am meeting with the people here. I’ve been meeting with people since 2010.”

The Paradise Sewer District was formed following a vote in 2010 that garnered 57% support for the sewer.

Also at question was the notion that Bischoff was given 49 votes on the matter due to calculations on how many lots he would end up with if he subdivided his property. Those claims were rejected by the Board, but residents insist that is not the case.

“I’m not necessarily opposed to the sewer project,” said resident Mark French, who also questioned the 49-vote issue. “I’m opposed to unfair politics, dirty politics done in the dark.”

When asked directly if it was too late to call off the project or at least put it on hold, Brooker assured the crowd it was not.

“It isn’t (too late),” Brooker said. “I’ll check that out but it may be we would need to put it up for another vote.”

Brooker also urged those in opposition that delaying or removing the project could cause the already approved grants and funding sources to dry up.

“The funding in place isn’t going to last forever,” she said. “If the money goes away it won’t come back”.

Before the meeting adjourned, Board members arranged at the urging of the anti-sewer group, to make a copy of all documents filed regarding the sewer project available for public viewing.

It was agreed those documents would soon be available at the American Legion club.