CLEARLAKE — Lake County Board of Supervisors, sitting as the Lake County Sanitation District (LACOSAN) voted to extend its moratorium prohibiting new hook-ups to the Southeast Regional Wastewater System Tuesday by vote count of 4-1. District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith voted in opposition of the extension.
The moratorium was implemented in March 2010 in order to address ongoing problems with overflow typically caused by excessive storm waters and other problems. A temporary pump station has been installed and is operable. However, according to Special Districts Director Mark Dellinger, there has been no need to activate the pump station yet in light of mild storm activity.
Dellinger said final engineering on the wastewater system improvement project is currently under way. He said a biological study must be completed prior to construction activity. “You have to go out and look for the plants when they are in bloom,” he said, adding that the survey would likely take place in May. “The biologist doesn”t feel that there are going to be plants of concern but we have to the studies (in accordance with law).”
Dellinger said although there have been no spills thus far this season he was requesting extension of the moratorium because of the uncertainty of future storm activity. “My uncertainty is only in the intensity of the storms,” he said. “It”s the intensity of the storm that could create havoc.”
Smith said he doesn”t see a cause to extend the moratorium because he does not foresee any large development projects occurring in the project area within the next six months. He said repairs and improvements completed thus far to enhance flows in the system are working and he opposes hampering the ability of citizens to add new single family dwelling hook-ups to the system. Such actions are possible; however, they currently require specific approval of the board.
Smith said he could not justify extending the moratorium in light of the numbers provided by Dellinger, which describe increase flow capabilities should the pump station need to be activated.
District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown said that while he could understand Smith”s point of view, there is no clear understanding of future development in the City of Clearlake. He said he supports maintaining the moratorium until there is a clearer understanding of the city”s intentions. He also indicated that he would support changing the moratorium to exclude new hook-ups for single family dwellings; however, no such change was put forth.
Brown also voiced support of maintaining the moratorium until construction is complete.
Dellinger said he anticipates putting the project out to bid in July with construction likely to take place in August. Additionally, he said staff is developing a bond package to bring before the board in the coming months; however, bonds he said cannot be issued until the county is certain it has a buildable project.
In other sanitation news, the board advanced an ordinance revising septic discharge charges to its second reading, Feb. 22. The revisions eliminate “full load” disposal charges and implement the following: 20 cents per gallon to be phased in over two years. First year increase would be from 7 cents a gallon to 13 cents per gallon. Second year increase would be from 13 cents a gallon to 20 cents per gallon. She said the first annual inflationary adjustment would occur in February 2013.
Dellinger said revisions will take effect March 22. “Septic haulers felt this was enough time to get the word out,” he said. “We really appreciate the cooperation we got from the septic haulers.”
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
