Hamilton County discusses East Hamilton sewage options

CHATTANOOGA (WDEF) – Angry community members last December effectively killed a plan by the WWTA to build a Wastewater Treatment Plant off Mahan Gap Road.

Now, the Hamilton County Commission is considering a resolution to approve an additional $25 million dollars to re-locate the plant.

If it passes, it would be a tax increase.

SABRENA SMEDLEY, CHAIRMAN, HAM. CO. COMMISSION
“For me personally, it’s going to be hard to support a resolution to spend an additional $25 million dollars, when we don’t have a specific site, and we don’t know what the true costs are.”

This $25 million would be in addition to the $45 million already allocated to spend to build the new Wastewater Treatment Plant.

WARREN MACKEY — HAM. CO. COMMISSIONER
“To move this a mile down the road is going to cost twenty to twenty-five million dollars?”

MIKE PATRICK, — INTERIM DIR., WWTA
“There are a number of sites under consideration. And moving the site would involve additional infrastructure. So that’s pump stations, force mains, that’s where the additional cost comes in.”

The Commissioners were upset with the WWTA last year when they realized that there had not been opportunity for public hearings, before the commission was asked to approve a site to build the Wastewater treatment plant.

Since the defeat of the measure in December, in large part due to pressure from a group of vocal community members, a committee has been set up to consider options, including alternate locations for a PLANT.

SMEDLEY: “I asked today, ‘Is it possible, that members of the committee, that live in the community, that are very familiar with the community, more so than any of us are, is it possible that they could identify a site, that’s not one of the 8 sites that they’re referring to, that would not cost as much?’ And the answer was yes.”

Commissioner Tim Boyd, was not interested in supporting additional spending whatsoever.

“This resolution, 319-6, is — crazy. This is crazy, this is, fiscal irresponsibility at its highest.”

Right now there is a moratorium on new building in the area, because no new sewer hookups are being allowed.

The Commission will vote on the resolution next Wednesday.

In Chattanooga, Ashley Henderson, News 12 Now.