Telling sewage story

This is a story about sewage. It all began in October 2013, when the meter that measures the flow of wastewater from the Tribe began to read below normal. This continued for three years until October 2016, when a new meter was installed, and calibrated.

The Town Administrator recommended taking a full year of readings in 2017 in order to see what the norm is. This was agreed to by the Town’s representative and the Tribe’s representative at a meeting of the Wastewater Advisory Board on November 8, 2016.

The monthly readings taken in 2017 established a new norm at 25.56 percent of total flow, whereas the readings for 2014, 2015, and 2016 measured an average of 19.46 percent, a difference of 6.10 percent.

When the 6.10 percent shortfall was applied to the billings, it produced a sum of $19,341.93 that the Tribe owes the Town. Unfortunately, on April 10 the Town’s representative moved that the Town not pursue collection. The Tribe’s representative seconded, and the motion carried.

On April 24 the Town Council voted 4 to 1 to agree with the Wastewater Advisory Board. They cited uncertainty about the impact of closure of the Tribe’s fish plant, among other things. As a result, each of the 515 Town customers of the sewer system is out $37.56.

As stakeholders, we should write to the Mayor, or send him an e-mail or call town hall at 360-466-3125, and request that this be put on the agenda for the next meeting of the Town Council for reconsideration or reversal of action taken.

Dan O’Donnell