I was at Santa Rita the other day and was so impressed by the beautiful job the city is doing around the Whitewater Park. And then the wind shifted and I was hit by a wall of stench. Of course the city has promised us that the refurbished sewage treatment plant is “not going to stink.” I’d like to point out that this is possibly the most common lie in the history of the world. And in this case, we won’t be able to open a window and laugh it off.
As a veteran of 35 years of major engineering projects, I have a few thoughts and questions for the city. First, a few thoughts:
It’s generally possible to change directions on a project before breaking ground (awkward and uncomfortable, maybe – but not impossible).Permit waivers or extensions are usually granted as long as the applicant is making best endeavors to comply with regulations.I also have a few questions regarding the engineering that led us to the decision to refurbish the existing plant:
Were all cost estimates developed with the same rigor and to the same specifications, or were the estimates for a new plant produced simply to support a decision that had already been made?Did anyone compare the future operating and maintenance costs of the two options (refurbished vs. new)?Did anyone compare the cost and feasibility of future expansions for the two options?Absent the “poop factory,” Santa Rita Park would be rapidly turning into a true crown jewel of our city parks. Already though, we hear the engineers admitting that the refurbished plant will probably smell sometimes, depending on operations; the footprint has expanded to eliminate the basketball and volleyball areas; the river appears to be moving away from the current intake; and the cost estimate is being revised upward.
I don’t dispute that the city has arrived at what is probably the simplest solution to today’s problem. My concern is that we’re failing to consider the longer term, and in so doing are quite possibly painting ourselves into an expensive corner.
Neale Roberts
Durango
