This week's headlines

Photo by Hank Lohmeyer A site location study for the proposed Cedaredge wastewater treatment plant was submitted to the town board on Nov. 15. Among the seven sites looked at was one town-owned parcel near the south end of the Cedaredge Golf Course driving range that is currently used for course maintenance activities (quonset structure). Golf course residents object to the site as do some town trustees. Looking to the north, the golf course clubhouse in seen is the background.About two dozen residents of the Cedaredge golf course neighborhood attended the Nov. 15 town board meeting to give input on the location of a new sewer plant.

At the meeting the trustees received their first copies of a consultant's report evaluating seven potential sites for a new mechanical waste water treatment plant to replace the town's 35-year-old lagoon system.

One site in particular was a concern to homeowners who live within 200 yards of the proposed location, on town-owned property near the south end of the golf course where grounds maintenance facilities are now located. It is the only town-owned site under consideration. The parcel is in view of the clubhouse and of some residences.

Concerns over possible noise, dust, odors, and declining property values were presented to the town trustees as they received the first copies of the consultant's report.

Seven sites were identified. But golf course homeowners suggested an eighth possible site be added to the list of possible locations: a privately owned parcel a bit further from the golf course on the west side of Old Goat Trail Road.

The trustees had not had a chance to look at the report and so scheduled a work session on Dec. 6 to discuss it. The suggested eighth site will be added to the original seven for trustee consideration.

Some trustees and golf course residents believe there is an agreement that the golf course site had at one time been forever dedicated for golf course use. At a Nov. 29 work session, town administrator Kathleen Sickles reported that no such document, agreement or statement of intention has been found in the town's files.

The town's current sewer lagoons discharge into the Alfalfa Ditch and Fruitgrowers Reservoir. The reservoir has been declared an "impaired body of water," and the phosphorus being added by the town lagoons exceeds allowable limits.

According to the report given to the trustees on Nov. 15 by the public works director, Cedaredge also may lack a discharge permit to spill its lagoon effulent into the Alfalfa Ditch.

A new mechanical plant will produce a much higher quality discharge stream than the current lagoons do, the trustees were told, and it will discharge into Surface Creek.

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