Willmar's City Council is facing another decision in the process toward a new wastewater treatment plant scheduled to open in 2010.
This project has been ongoing since 2000 to develop, fund, build and complete a new wastewater treatment facility prior to the expiration of the current plant's permit in November 2010.
The council's current decision is whether to relocate the plant closer to Willmar near the intersection of Kandiyohi County Road 5 and Minnesota Highway 23. The original proposed location is several miles farther west of the city.
The city staff is correct to bring a possible alternative location to the City Council's consideration after meeting property owner resistance along the proposed wastewater pipe route.
Certainly, a new plant location nearer to the city will save line construction costs, which could be in the seven-figure range.
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However, with the history of the wastewater treatment plant performance in Willmar, a closer plant location is not politically feasible in this city.
The decision is rather simple.
- Willmar residents are tired of dealing with wastewater treatment air pollution in the city.
- No one -- industry experts, city staff or the City Council -- can guarantee with complete certainty that a closer plant location will not result in any air pollution.
- City growth -- both industrial and residential -- expected in southwest Willmar in the next 20 years could be impacted by any air pollution from the closer location.
- The current plant is operating at or near capacity and has to be replaced by November 2010.
The citizens of Willmar are tired of living with air pollution from their wastewater treatment facility. The citizens want the new plant built on schedule and at the original brush site location.
Given the public sentiment on this issue, the City Council should reject the alternative site location near the Highway 23-County 5 location. This is not an acceptable option politically in this city.
The City Council and staff have several alternative choices to pursue.
- Find an alternative route around the property owner to the brush site location and pay the estimated additional cost of $10 million.
- Find an acceptable solution to the city and the property owner to resolve the conflict.
- Take the property owner to court to obtain the appropriate clearance for the original wastewater pipe route.
The public sentiment is to move ahead with the project to complete the wastewater treatment plant at the original brush site location.
It's time to stay on track and get Willmar's new wastewater treatment plant done by mid 2010.
