Paradise Legion Club in need of new septic

During the well-publicized Paradise sewer project battle, the American Legion Club, one of two businesses in the town and the largest producer of sewage, had to walk a fine line.

Legion Club officials knew a public sewer, which was halted when the majority of residents in the town fought to have the process stopped and succeeded in doing so last year, would be the best and possibly least expensive option for the club’s sewage.

So they maintained a low profile and hoped the permits for the existing sewage system, which involves use of a cesspool, would suffice as the business recovered from the economic malaise that affected so many businesses throughout the state and country.

But the two permits involved in the club’s sewage system recently expired, prompting Sanders County Environmental Health officials to invite the club owners and managers to meet to discuss options to keep the business open.

“The community water system is currently not an option for wastewater disposal, and the holding tank permit has expired,” said Sanders County Sanitarian Shawn Sorenson. “As such, Post 129 (Legion club) was recently invited to discuss long-term wastewater disposal that meets operational needs and meets State of Montana on-site wastewater disposal regulations.”

What that most likely means, club officials say, is that the current holding tank system and sewage storage capacity may need to be replaced with a new septic system that would cost anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000. The holding tank permit was based on an estimated 219 gallons per day of “residential strength waste.”

The business, which sits along Montana 200, the main thoroughfare through the unincorporated town, was also granted a permit for additional sewage production from the club’s kitchen, which was based on the waste generated by up to 100 customers per day.

At the time the permit for the kitchen’s waste was issued, there was concern about the existing system’s ability to handle the increased sewage demands generated by the facility’s kitchen.

“Completion of the community sewer system was an expected outcome,” Sorenson said in a written statement. “That variance request was noted on June 6, 2018 in a request from Post 129 leadership”.

The ultimate failure of the controversial sewage system project was halted, and those initial permits have since expired.

“It hasn’t come to that as of yet,” said club official Darin King. “But without a public sewer we may have to put in a very expensive system”.

One former club manager, who asked not to be identified, said rejection of the proposed system left the club between a rock and a hard place. The club, he said, had to respect the wishes of the majority of its “base” customers, while at the same time realizing a public sewer system would be the best solution of their business, one of two in the town. The other business is a second-hand store with minimal sewage requirements.

King said he was not certain what those costs would be and that the county hasn’t given the club any specific time table for meeting.

Sorenson said the permits that have expired were based on the expected installation of the $4.5 million sewage system and waste storage facility. Critics argued the price tag was way too high and that the public was not included in decisions made in the initial phases of the proposed project.

Paradise community activist Lee Ann Overman, one of the leaders in the move to stop the sewer project and a resident of the town, said people she has spoken with since word of the Legion’s sewer situation are ready to pitch in and help the business stay open.

“People can make donations and maybe have a benefit to raise money to pay for it (new sewage system),” she said. “It could be expensive but it could be done.”

Club officials also hope the American Legion, a nationwide organization for Veterans, will be able to help.