Seems every day I hear more and more people with an absolute one-track mind whining “The sewer plant stinks, move it.” End of thought process. These people have no concept of what it would entail to plan and construct a new sewer plant, an extremely complicated and costly endeavor.
To my recollection, the sewer plant odor was not offensive until recently. The past three or four years. About the time the plant became at or near maximum capacity. It is my understanding that a complete remodel and expansion with all the latest equipment will again eliminate the offensive odor. Aesthetically, the building is still pleasing. It just needs a tune-up. Mechanically, a full blown expansion and reconditioning should also include calculations of rates of growth and costs for a future Durango, a normal process.
Should a sewer plant expansion encroach on the Santa Rita green field, or the Chamber of Commerce, so what? It is obviously easier to expand on what we already have, for about $60 million, than it is to start all over again with a new project of unknown, unexplored consequence for a debt of close to $100 million.
The parking at Santa Rita Park has never been adequate for special events, and there are several areas where new parks or a sports complex could be built. Cundiff Park is a park in name only. The city uses the area as a place to dump dirty, contaminated snow, ice and street trash in the winter. La Posta Road, south of Escalante bridge, would be a good place for a sports complex or possibly by the hospital.
There is no reason to panic and get your undies in a bunch, as City Council is doing, just because the sewer plant is odoriferous. It’s fixable! If your car breaks down – fix it. If your roof leaks – fix it. If your sewer plant smells – fix it. Why even consider a new sewer plant at a new location for a debt of around $100 million? That would be ridiculous!
Rob Rietveld
Durango
