38° SUNNY, New sewage treatment plant in sight
Last Modified: Thursday, November 22, 2007 at 10:50 p.m.
KILLEN - Town officials are getting closer to realizing their goal of building a sewage treatment plant.
After almost two years of debate on the issue, Mayor Jerry Mitchell said a site outside Killen and near Elgin has been selected as having the most potential for the facility that would serve residents primarily along U.S. 72 and J.C. Mauldin Highway.
"There is still no signed contract at this time," he said. "We're not obligated, but we are in serious discussion" with Alabama Utility Services. Mitchell said he anticipates finalizing the contract at the Dec. 10 council meeting.
The need for a sewage treatment plant became an issue as a result of the residential and commercial growth Killen has experienced in recent years, the mayor said. Anticipating future growth means that the luxury of waiting to build the facility is no longer an option.
Initially, Alabama Utility tested a site on Bridge Road for the plant, but it was abandoned for economic reasons, officials said. Residents of the area came out against the proposal, citing purported damage to their property values and the plant's impact on the environment.
Additionally, town officials conducted a feasibility study of connecting Killen's sewage with the city of Florence. At a cost of around $4 million for the necessary infrastructure, however, it proved too costly an endeavor, said Don Price, the town's engineer.
Alabama Utility Services, a private Birmingham-based company, will own and operate the plant, and Killen will franchise the operation.
Chris Matthews, president of Alabama Utility, said he expected some progress on the project within the next 30 to 60 days.
"That's where we are," he said. "Once we have the final agreement with the city, we'll start doing sign-ups for people."
Homeowners and business owners will apply to the city to be part of the new sewage plant. The basic rate for service is expected to be in the range of $5.50 per 1,000 gallons of water and go up based on one's rate of impact on the system.
Unlike the majority of sewage treatment plants in the Shoals that operate on a gravity system, Killen's will be a low-pressure system.
"Lots of older systems in the state have had problems with the gravity systems because they must also treat rain- and groundwater runoff," Matthews said. "With a low-pressure system, all you're treating is the raw sewage."
Although the majority of homes in Killen use septic tanks, some commercial properties have their own small treatment systems. Mitchell said the sewage system would use state-of-the-art technology to control odor and filtration systems that are better for the environment.
"We're growing, and this is just one of those pains that go along with that growth," he said.
Michelle Rupe Eubanks can be reached at 740-5745 or michelle.eubanks@timesdaily.com.
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Comments
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December 4, 2007 6:29:38 pm
RE: http://www.timesdaily.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071123/NEWS/711230317
I have just found out I have the unfortunate circumstances of living right next to this proposed plant! Needless to say, I am outraged! The people of Plantation Village subdivision in Killen will see a dramatic decline in the value of their properties if this plant comes to fruition. Not to mention the health implactions. I would suggest to those involved that they find a secluded peice of land away from any homes to put their facility on. I would strongly suggest all those in the Plantation Village subdivision and all those on county road 33 to get involved and stop this thing! I for one am certainly going to do all I can to stop this and will be at the meeting Monday night!!
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December 4, 2007 7:34:50 pm
When and where is there going to be a town meeting? I would love to put in my two cents but I need to know when and where to go. I was thrilled when the sewage treatment plant was cancelled on Bridge Road. Putting it on County Road 33 is much closer to my home. I'll do what I can to stop it.
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December 4, 2007 8:21:07 pm
Why stop it?
The article referred to "environmental" damage. I daresay, that untreated sewage would be more damaging to the environment.
Modern tertiary sewage plants do not smell and increase the property values around them as commercial property.
It's progress. Bask in it.
DF
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December 4, 2007 10:04:29 pm
O.K. DEEP GO CALL THEM UP AND HAVE THEM PUT THAT FACILITY IN YOUR BACKYARD! I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD LIKE IT! Grumpy, the meeting will me this Monday night at the Killen Town Hall 5 p.m. I would suggest you get there early.
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December 4, 2007 10:06:37 pm
One more thing, Deepfat, we don't live in the city limits, so therefore, "commercial property" doesn't apply to us.
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December 5, 2007 6:27:43 am
I wish you luck. I've got a feeling it's going to go there tho', as they've already changed proposed locations once. It looks like they've got to put one somewhere.
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December 5, 2007 7:51:06 am
Well, it has to go somewhere, and I have a feeling that they have delved into every site they could to find the best one.
Sorry to say it is probably YOUR neighborhood. But the good thing is, with modern technology, you probably won't even notice it.
Besides, look at the jobs it will create just in the Construction alone. We can't have it BOTH ways.
I would have to say maybe you guys need to get used to the idea that it is going to be where it is going to be and understand that the construction will probably bother you more than the operation of the plant will anyway.
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December 5, 2007 8:06:06 am
I say you get educated on it as much as possible. It may not be as bad as you may think. The alternative may be worse for the environment. Another thing to think about is that having a treatment plant will bring other opportunity's to the town, such as grants and other sensitives.
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December 5, 2007 8:52:48 am
I'm sure they probably done their homework this time and whatever location they have picked is where it will probably be.
I've heard rumor of several building projects around the Killen area that have been put on hold due to the sewage issue and some have been in the works for several years. Not real sure though, you know how small town rumors can be.
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December 5, 2007 9:15:46 am
Thanks for the warm fuzzies on the fact that it will bring jobs and good for the environment, but come on guys, how would you feel if it were right next door to your home! Somehow, I think you would have to agree with me on this. My homes value would drop by more than 50%! Let all those involved know I WILL fight this.
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