Proposed sewer project divides Paradise

Paradise isn’t lost, but it is sharply divided.

English poet John Milton published his famous work “Paradise Lost” in 1667. In it he discusses among other topics rebellion and battles between good and evil.

In a scaled-down sense the battle, for a sewer system in this case, is a microcosm of that epic work at play in this small Montana community.

Saturday morning the division within the community was on display during a 90-minute meeting at the Paradise Center in which those against constructing a sewage system and treatment plant on the west end of the unincorporated community had another chance to voice their displeasure with the proposed project.

The main points of contention during the heated but civil meeting were what those opposed consider unfair taxation for a system that is not needed.

The counter argument, presented mostly by embattled Sanders County Sewer District President Sunny Chase, centered around environmental and development concerns.

Chase opened the program by apologizing for a “misconception” concerning harmful nitrates in the existing water system presented earlier by those for the $4.5 million project.

“I would like to apologize for a misconception about nitrates in the water,” Chase said. “Nitrates are not increasing in the town’s water. However there is a high concentration of nitrates underground.”

Anti-sewer advocate Katy French confirmed that comment by saying she had researched the subject and found the current level of nitrates in the water was well below state standards that would require action.

“The current levels of nitrates in the water are 1.3 parts per million,” French said. “The state standard is 10 parts per million with a level of 5 ppm the level before the state takes a look at the situation.

“There is no trend of those levels rising. The state has been saying for years they were going to aggressively pursue a sewer system in Paradise despite those findings.”

Chase noted that the county, which is required to approve the project because Paradise is not an officially incorporated community, put the issue on the ballot in 2010 and 57% of residents voted to form a Sewer District.

“The Sewer District has the specific authority to create a sewer system,” she told the gathering of approximately 30 residents, the overwhelming majority of which were against the plan. “The purpose of the District is to develop, construct, operate and maintain a sewage system. We have been operating in good faith to do that.”

In the years since the ballot measure passed, Chase said, the district has been working with, and in many cases waiting on the county for approval to proceed with the work.

Along the way the Sewer District and County have sought and secured more than $3.6 million in grants and other funding sources that leave the District with the need to finance the remaining $770,000 estimated to build the system.

As a result, local landowners have been informed that they will be on the hook for $185 a year in taxes, along with approximately $35 a month in system service fees.

Chase said the district and county are still pursuing grants, including one possibly from the federal Delivering Local Assistance program that would make up the $770,000, which currently is planned as a loan.

If that grant can be obtained, landowners would have only the $35 per month to pay, she said.

That did not sit well with many of those in attendance Saturday, who say the whole process has been flawed from the beginning and many of the approximately 100 lot owners in the community did not receive fair and adequate notice of the plans until the last minute.

Paradise landowner Danny Risland, a vocal critic of the proposal, rejected the idea that the majority of lot owners favor the system’s construction.

“A lot of those folks who voted in 2010 are either dead or have moved away,” Risland said. “There is no pollution in these wells and if there was a sewage system it is not going to fix that.”

Risland, who owns two lots, has combined, or aggregated his property into one lot so he will not have to pay for two hookups when there is only his residence on the site. And, he said, the estimated $5,661 hook-up cost could be done way cheaper.

“I don’t see how the town profits from this at all,” Risland said. “There are lots of people living here who have limited incomes and they will be stuck with the bill.”

The district is purchasing six acres west of the community on which it plans to construct the sewage plant and drain field. That property is owned by Bridger Bischoff, a local landowner who has also proposed subdividing other nearby property to make way for at least 40 homesites further to the west.

The treated water would be pumped via pipe and culvert which would pass under Montana 200 and nearby railroad tracks that are occupied by Montana Rail Links and other railroad entities. The railroads have ruled out using any of their property for the treatment facility.

First-time homeowner Melissa Rowland spoke against the project and what she and others claim was a serious lack of public information.

“We were not informed of the protest meetings,” Rowland said. “And some people were not allowed to protest. That doesn’t seem very democratic to me.

“The house we (she and partner Cody Lampman) have here is the first one I’ve ever had. We have plans to improve the property and we don’t need anyone tearing up our yard.”

Those sentiments were echoed by local resident Lee Ann Overman.

“Nobody knew about a lot of this until the last minute,” Overman said passionately. “This is going to paralyze the whole town for the next 40 years. And I also don’t like the idea of 50 homes being built nearby.”

Board members and other proponents have repeatedly defended their meeting notification efforts, saying notices were placed in all residents mailboxes and in some cases representatives have been going door to door to provide such information.

For district President Chase and other supporters, the pros of installation of the sewer system will far outweigh the cons.

“There are businesses that would like to locate here but don’t because there is no sewer system,” Chase said. “I want everyone to know we are not against the town and we don’t think the town is against us. I’m for the town of Paradise. In my many years here I’ve seen the town slowly dying.

“I remember when there was a gas station, an IGA (grocery store) and passenger trains used to stop here. If we do nothing, the town will keep dying.”

Each speaker was given five minutes to talk, with 90 minutes set aside for the public comment portion of the meeting.

Following the public comment session, the Sewer District board met in a closed meeting with Sanders County Commissioner Carol Brooker to discuss future plans for proceeding with the sewer project.

Chase indicated there may be more public input meetings in the future.

Each speaker was given five minutes to talk, with 90 minutes set aside for the public comment portion of the meeting.

Following the public comment session, the Sewer District board met in a closed meeting with Sanders County Commissioner Carol Brooker to discuss future plans for proceeding with the sewer project.

Chase indicated there may be more public input meetings in the future.