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Engineer presents wastewater plant proposal
Published Monday, November 17, 2008
VALLEY GRANDE — The city's governing body proved Monday plans for an 86-acre
residential and commercial development did not die with the previous
administration.
The city council listened to a proposal about a wastewater treatment plant
from an engineer with ADL Engineering based in Fort Payne and Prattville.
The development is several years away, council members said, but they all
agreed building a decentralized treatment plant is a necessary first step
for the project to continue.
"With the development of this master plan, the paramount thing is wastewater
treatment. You've got to have a way to get all these communities' wastewater
treated and handled and out of there," said engineer Will Barrett. "Septic
tanks aren't the way to go because of the density you're trying to achieve."
The development is located adjacent to the city park and walking trail on
County Road 16. More than 19 acres of commercial and office space are
planned, as well as almost 28 acres of residential space. The site of the
treatment plant is proposed on a nine-acre wooded lot on the northwest
corner of the development.
Plans for the project were initiated before the Aug. 26 election.
Part of Barrett's presentation was to assure residents they would not have
to worry about typical problems associated with wastewater treatment plants.
Smell was the chief concern.
The city has yet to decide what type of plant it wants. It was initially
planned for a flow of 15,000 gallons per day. Barrett said construction cost
of a plant that size is usually estimated at $7 to $10 per gallon, meaning a
possible range of $105,000 to $150,000.
The estimate also will depend on a study by the Alabama Department of
Environmental Management that will determine contaminants in the area.
Valley Grande Mayor Tom Lee said the city council wants the plant to be
engineered so that outlying areas have the option of tapping into its
capacity.
Comments
Posted by rex5 (anonymous) on November 18, 2008 at 8:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Buckle up and hold on tight citizens of Valley Grande. In the next four years this administration will have the city so deep in debt that there will be no way out without a property tax. It is coming, just wait and see!
Posted by mrbrown (anonymous) on November 18, 2008 at 9:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I tend to agree rex. With Valley Grande's growth, comes some of the same problems residents have tried to avoid or complained about. I wonder where people are going to move when Valley Grande becomes just like Selma.
Posted by watchingthecounty (anonymous) on November 18, 2008 at 1:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
You can move to Plantersville.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 9:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I think us Valley Grande folks need to ask where are we with commercial recruitment to generate some business taxes. I understand you can't snap your fingers and get industry, but are we taking those steps to get there? Are we recruiting "anything"? I've seen the plans for the residential and commercial set up on the main lot of property. What is the time frame for that? Kind of hard to fill them when they're not built. You can't keep building things that are taking out of the pot. We need some things to add to the pot. That's the only way to stay a viable community. Common sense.
Posted by rex5 (anonymous) on November 19, 2008 at 4:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree eyeonyou, But how many people believe that someone is going to invest millions into a development on that property, even if there is a treatment plant. I do not see anyone with any sense spending the kind of money it would take to develop that property. Not in the near future anyway.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on November 20, 2008 at 9:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, why did they even waste the time to have it drawn up by engineers and architects then? Looks like someone on that council or mayor's position was shooting in the dark. If that IS the direction...Valley Grande needs to take a more aggressive and proactive approach to attracting industry or business. Good ol' boy ways aren't going to make it happen.
Posted by rex5 (anonymous) on November 20, 2008 at 11:06 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The reason is, There are some people in this administration that have a pie in the sky view of Valley Grande and they think they can some how turn Valley Grande into another Prattville. The fact of the matter is Selma or Valley Grande will never be that. Frankly I enjoy the small community that we have now, I like not having to deal with the traffic and all the other problems of that kind of town.
Posted by eyeonyou (anonymous) on November 20, 2008 at 3:15 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I enjoy living in Valley Grande too. I realize that Selma, nor V.G. will ever be a Prattville. On the other hand, I do realize that in order to stay afloat as a town...you must be progressive. People in VG didn't sign up to annex in order to be stuck with mile high taxes to deal with LUXERY'S such as Fire Stations, Safety, City Government, and so on. You must pay taxes to afford these. If we don't have some business taxes to offset this...WE are stuck with the expenses. And believe me....they are coming soon. We need slow growth. Every town needs some growth in today's world.
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