Paradise sewer board reports progress

Sanders County Sewer District at Paradise Board’s first meeting of February was calmer than the last one in January, although it came with the familiar get-a-vote-from-the-people tune. This time, however, it was voiced from Paradise resident Danny Risland, who steamed out of the meeting after being told by two board members to hold off on speaking until the public comment period. Risland believes the vote taken 11 years ago is invalid and that the majority of the residents today do not want the new sewer system, including himself.

The remainder of the near two-hour meeting last Tuesday evening was relatively argue free, but not without complaints about the board, which received an eviction notice from having its meetings in the Sanders County Water District’s pump house. Katy French presented a letter from the water district saying the sewer board could not utilize its pump house for meetings unless a fee schedule be established to help pay for electricity and heating costs. The letter stated there should be separation between the two boards, particularly after disparaging remarks were made at water board members at the previous meeting, which included accusations about missing papers. The water district board requested the sewer board have its property out of the building by Feb. 15. The letter was signed by French, LeeAnn Overman, Judy Hawley, and Terry Caldwell, who is also a member of the sewer board.

Sewer board members provided progress reports to each other and to the 10 community members in attendance. Treasurer Dewey Arnold said that he’s been able to make two payments, but has not been able to pay the approximately $24,000 owed to the Sanders County Water District. He plans to get with French to determine how much, if anything, has been paid back. Arnold also told the board that ARPA extended its deadline to April 8. Paradise had received a $1,437,881 ARPA grant, but last month the state notified the board that it could lose its funding if nothing was being done to further the project. “The extension deadline is that we have to show movement in order keep our grant funding through ARPA and Rural Development,” said Barber, the sewer board chair.

Arnold also reported that the Department of Commerce, which awarded a $750,000 Treasure State Endowment Program (TSEP) grant, will pay the December bills, but nothing after until the board has a firm plan in place. “The only specifics I’ve heard from the funding agencies has been related to a buy/sell, but I think if the board can come to an agreement with Bridger (Bischoff) then we could put together a plan as to what work would need to be done to finish up design, get DEQ approval, and get this project out to bid,” Collette Anderson of Great West Engineering told Don Stamm, a member of the sewer board.

Barber and Arnold also reported on their meeting with Bischoff about purchasing a different part of his property for the project. She said they didn’t discuss any amount of money, but he wanted the property appraised as commercial property, versus agricultural property, which would increase its value. Barber said they talked about different types of sewer systems and told him they were not going with a system that dumped into the Clark Fork River or one that has a pond, where the wind would blow foul odor into Paradise. She said he wanted to talk “with his people” about it. Anderson said Great West originally proposed the portion of Bischoff’s property that is closer to town, which is the same property they’re now looking to buy, but she said he was not interested in selling it because it was the site he planned to establish an RV park.

Caldwell compiled a list of potential attorneys that the board would like to hire to look over documents and contracts. He thought Claude Burlingame of Thompson Falls would be the best choice, but he was selected as the interim commissioner to fill Carol Brooker’s vacancy. Commissioner Glen Magera said he doubts Burlingame would be able to represent the board in a legal capacity due to a possible conflict of interest and suggested to Caldwell that he ask Burlingame for a recommendation.

The board has $20,000 budgeted for legal fees, however, because a large portion would come from Rural Development funding, which Anderson said isn’t available until after the project final design is done, and the project bids and final construction cost is known. She said that $5,000 comes from the TSEP grant, which is also currently unavailable until a firm plan for the project is in place.

Caldwell said another reason to hire an attorney would be to look over the contract they have with Great West Engineering. He believes there are some items in the contract that could be eliminated to save money, such as $10,000 to pay the company to clear alleys, where people have an assortment of trash and items that the county should force owners to clean up. “In my opinion, and others, too, Great West should be reengineering this (new design) on their own dime,” said Caldwell. He told those present that he stepped down as chairman because he doesn’t have the time to perform all the responsibilities required as a board chairman. He said he had been considering stepping down for some time, but the previous week’s meeting made it easier. “There’s no animosity at all. I’ve done it because that is the best way to go,” he said.

French and Overman both took time during the public comment period to voice their displeasure of the previous meeting. “The last meeting was horrific,” said Overman, who said that Barber “screamed” at her and French because they were on the water board. She said board member Janie McFadgen did the same thing and implied that someone from the water board stole the sewer board’s minutes of the last two meetings from the file cabinet. Overman also accused Stamm of trying to “take over the board.” She also provided a written statement that said, “The sewer board cannot force their neighbors to pay for a system which their neighbors (the qualified electors of the District) decline to support.”

Overman told the board that she records all the meetings and plans to let others listen to what took place at that meeting. “I’m going to let some other people listen to it because it’s horrific what happened and the way thing went down,” said Overman, who also stated that three of the board members harassed the people of the public as well as other board members. French chimed in with her complaints about the same meeting. “The meeting last week was the most dysfunctional thing I’ve ever seen or witnessed. It was a horrible example of public government,” said French, who added that board members yelled at people multiple times, at times screaming, stomping their feet and banging on the table.

“I was defamed in that meeting, seriously defamed at that meeting. Things were said directly, suggested directly with no backup, no foundation and no evidence,” said French. “I hope that none of us, board members or the public, ever see that type of display again because it was unacceptable on any level.” It was also pointed out that people could attend the meeting via Zoom, but it was not available.

Caldwell apologized for the conduct of the board members and accepted responsibility because he was the board chairman at the time. The next meeting, which was scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 15, was to be held at the United Methodist Church clubhouse, which would cost $25.

The positions held by Barber and McFadgen are up for re-election this year. Both have already filed, along with Paradise resident Pernel Elaine Chapman. The positions are three-year terms. The candidates with the highest number of votes would be elected to those positions, according to Bobbi Christenson, the Sanders County election deputy.