I read that the city is offering “open houses” of our aging wastewater treatment plant each Wednesday and Friday this month. So that prompts two obvious questions about the sewer plant. First, will the community rally for infrastructure and organize a “Friends of the Sewer Plant” group, similar to Friends of the Arts or Friends of the Library? And second, what’s the purpose of those mysterious bronze-colored windows at the sewer plant? – Sign me, Going With The Flow
There’s an interesting trend with local governments. Whenever there’s a need for massive capital expenditures, public tours are offered of the resource in question.
Take the Durango-La Plata County Airport. Officials are making the case to build a $143 million new terminal. Therefore, the airport offers “Go Where Your Bags Go” tours.
Naturally, when the city floats the idea of a $55 million wastewater-plant replacement, tours are part of the outreach. The city won’t call them “Go Where You Go” tours. But we sure can.
The public appreciates being regular. So sewer plant tours are scheduled on Wednesdays and Fridays at 3:30 p.m. through Nov. 26.
This is your chance to see if a sewer-plant upgrade passes the smell test.
As our good friend Steve Salka, the city’s director of utilities, points out, just about everything at the plant has reached the end of its useful life. It’s a bum deal.
And if you pooh-pooh the notion of a new sewer plant, consider that it’s already operating at capacity, town’s growing and regulations will require updating the plant whether you like it or not.
If the plant isn’t fixed, there will be massive fines and a moratorium on sewer taps. It doesn’t take a whiz to see that this isn’t a good situation.
Still, the $55 million price tag is causing the anti-tax crowd’s faces to be flushed with anger. No doubt, they will raise a stink.
Enough of the coarse discourse. To its credit, the city’s announcement takes an official, factual and dignified tone.
But we’re talking wastewater treatment. It’s just too darn easy to skewer the sewer. Even some honchos at City Hall couldn’t resist adding a punchline.
Take our good friend Ron LeBlanc, city manager. “The tours are a public process unlike any you have ever experienced,” Ron explained.
“Due to insurance reasons and health department regulations, the dunk tank portion of the tour has been eliminated. However, it is still an experience of sight, sound and smell that you are not soon to forget,” he added drolly.
But seriously, for more information or to schedule a tour please contact John Sandhaus, the city’s wastewater superintendent, at 375-4895.
As for establishing “Friends of the Sewer Plant,” Action Line thinks there are fertile grounds for an advocacy group.
However, fundraising might prove difficult. Would you snack on finger foods served at a sewer plant benefit? Would you bid at a silent but deadly auction?
And finally, those bronze windows. They do absolutely nothing. “A big waste of money,” utilities director Steve says, shaking his head.
“It’s a brick wall behind that glass. It’s ‘decorative.’ And they don’t make that kind of glass anymore. So when idiots throw rocks and break the glass, we have to replace them with something else. A total waste.”
Smoky bronze reflective glass was part of a totally gnarly 1980s remodel done when Reagan was president, Madonna was like a virgin, and “Dynasty” was the cool TV show.
That’s why you need to tour the joint, if only for nostalgic reasons.
Becoming informed about the Durango sewer plant should be your number one and number two priorities. It’s not every day that you can become fluent in effluent.
Email questions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. You can request anonymity if you can explain why we have enough money to improve the park near the sewer plant but lack the money to improve the sewer plant itself.
