Paradise sewer project on hold, for now

There are no bulldozers or excavators digging holes in a hay field on the western edge of Paradise.

The only machinery at work has been cutting and baling equipment producing large rolled bales of future livestock feed.

Instead of a new sewer retention facility carrying sewage from the small, unincorporated town in southern Sanders County, deer and bighorn sheep are the primary users of the land.

The halt in the proposed $4.5 million project has already been delayed and possibly scuttled thanks to the persistent protests carried out by a large majority of residents of the town which is still marked by dozens of “No Sewer” signs.

A recall drive initiated by sewer opponents is currently in the hands of local voters, who are calling for the ouster of Paradise Sewer Board President Sunny Chase and fellow board member Rick McCollum from the 5-person Board, which was formed 10 years ago to consider future sewer needs.

Earlier this year, a third member of the board, Adam Rice, stepped down from his position in the face of other obligations and growing protests against the proposed project.

The project would have utilized six acres of land owned by local resident Bridger Bischoff, property that was initially set for construction this spring in the area where the deer and bighorns now play.

An informal poll was conducted by board member Terry Caldwell last fall to gauge support for the project. Residents opposed it by a large margin, 59-21.

Results of that informal canvassing, which was non-binding, seemed to bolster an already fired-up group of local residents who adamantly oppose the system and its costs.

Residents have long complained they were not properly informed of the project and all related steps and cited violation of standards for keeping citizens informed of all project matters.

A buy/sell agreement signed by Bischoff and Chase has since been voided by various conditions outlined in the six-acre deal, mostly due to delays and public outcry. That agreement, which expired on June 30, was extended to July 15 but has once again run out.

“This all started because a few people decided what they thought the whole town needed or even wanted,” said Paradise resident LeeAnn Overman, a vocal and energetic leader of the resistance to the project. Those who wanted this never asked the town’s people what they wanted.

“I told Sunny ‘you don’t’ own the town, no one does,” Overman said. “You don’t get to tell anyone what they can or cannot do.”

As it now stands, the results of the recall vote, which will be tabulated at the conclusion of the 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24 deadline for residents and property owners within the town’s traditional boundaries, will determine the future of the project, which would likely includ starting over from scratch.

Also, Burlington Northern Railroad, which owns property on the south side of Montana 200, has an opinion about the project, according to local resident and engineer Katy French.

French, who has done extensive research on the project and has been instrumental in leading the opposition, said BNR officials were not aware of the potential affect the sewer project would have on their property, including a building that was once a busy depot and is now used by railroad personnel.

“After we let them know what all was involved they conducted a third party review which found the matter of sewage adjacent to and on their property was not something they wanted,” French said.

French said the whole matter has been improperly conducted by the Board since its inception. She said sewer opponents are generally pleased by the fact that no work has taken place on the project, which would also involve running sewer lines through the small town and allowing for Bischoff to obtain sewers for a proposed housing development on land he also owns on the northern edge of Paradise.

“It’s been a good thing this has been halted, at least for now,” French said. “When the new Board is settled and in place, they can begin work on taking another look at the project to see if it really is needed and what it would actually cost residents of the town.”

French and others have been extremely critical of the lack of public information and involvement concerning the sewer project.

“The new Board can look at the size, scope and location of the project,” she said. “They would basically be on a new track and could this time follow protocol including seeking and listening to public input.”

While conceding the matter may be far from solved or abandoned, French and others say they are pleased with what a group of ordinary citizens have accomplished in getting the project halted and for all practical purposes, forcing a broader, more informed approach.

“We feel good knowing that whatever moves forward from this situation will be representative of the wants of the people of Paradise,” she said.

Paradise resident Cody Lampman, who has also been active in opposing the project, agreed and hoped all involved can arrive at a more inclusive solution.

“The way they (Board) went about this was not right,” Lampman said. “People have the right to be involved and know about things that will affect their lives like this project. It was just not right how it was being done.”

Paradise residents say they have been misled from the beginning by representatives of Great West Engineering, the large project engineering firm that was awarded the contract to design the proposed system. Most say the long-term costs and lack of a need for a sewer system are key reasons they do not support the project. Many residents, all of whom currently rely on individual septic systems, say their systems are working fine and in many cases have been installed in recent years.

“We’ve wanted this stopped and have been seeking a re-do on this from the beginning,” Overman said. “Let’s get a Board in place, then hold a vote to let the people decide if they want or do not want this sewer project.”