County Mayor Jim Coppinger on Wednesday asked County Commission members to vote next Wednesday to approve up to $25 million for expenses related to moving the planned $45 million Ooltewah Sewage Plant away from the preferred site.
He said it would require a tax increases to do so, but he said the commission earlier rejected the Mahan Gap Road site and the Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority (WWTA) had agreed to move on to an alternative (though much more expensive site).
However, some commission members balked at the idea.
Commissioner Tim Boyd called the proposal "just simply absurd. It's crazy." He said he would only consider a site "that doesn't cost a penny more."
He said the commission ought to take a revote and "a couple of commissioners change their position" and approve Mahan Gap Road. He said, "The commission was wrong in December for voting it down. I'm more concerned about 357,000 residents out there than 200 families from Ooltewah who don't want it near them." He said wherever the site is selected "there will be opposition. It will just be people in purple shirts instead of green shirts."
Mike Patrick, the new WWTA executive director, said Mahan Gap is still considered the best site. He said other locations would require expensive pump stations and forced mains.
Chairman Sabrena Smedley said with the recent rains "you needed a kayak" at Mahan Gap. However, Mr. Patrick said the area where it was planned to put the sewage plant was above any flood water.
Commissioner Katherlynn Geter said she was "shocked" to get the resolution on Tuesday afternoon. She said, "If we haven't even chosen a site, why do we need to pass this now? It just seems wierd to say the least."
Commissioner Greg Martin commented, "I don't know how in the world I could support that."
Chairman Smedley said she wants a long-range plan in place with all the options considered before deciding. She said one unknown is whether a private company could take over the WWTA and proceed with the needed improvements at less cost to taxpayers.
County Mayor Coppinger said the county has been in discussions with those private firms and with the city on the possibility of combining forces with it, but that nothing had been worked out. He waid the county could better control its destiny with the WWTA in place.
He said WWTA officials are having to meet with EPA officials in Atlanta on Wednesday and needed a plan in place on next steps. He said the WWTA is facing a consent decree involving from $200 million to $250 million in improvements.
He said it would be the WWTA ratepayers paying off the debt with the county fronting the money and eventually getting paid off in 30 or 40 years.
County Mayor Coppinger said at a meeting last Thursday that a committee would be named to work with the WWTA on finding a site and it would include Ooltewah residents.