Some Sechelt residents want to see a complete wastewater treatment plant purchased for the District of Sechelt, rather than a biosolids handling facility, which would buy the District more time, but not solve the problem.
This was the opinion expressed by John Henderson, who made a presentation to council April 6, saying there is enough money to build a complete wastewater treatment plant now. He urged council to put out a request for proposals (RFP) to find an appropriate builder to do the work at an acceptable price.
Currently the District is looking at creating a biosolids handling facility to help take the load off the two existing sewage treatment plants, which are nearing capacity and need to be replaced. The District says there is not enough money to build a new treatment plant at this time, so it is felt the biosolids handling facility is a good option. The biosolids handling facility is less expensive and will allow for more time to raise the money needed for a new sewage treatment plant, according to the District.
Henderson disagrees.
"I think we have the chance to do it right, to do it now," he said. "We can afford it, and we should embrace the opportunity."
Henderson said he resigned as chair of the Sechelt sewage facilities commission in October 2010 when the commission decided to explore the biosolids handling facility option, saying, "The direction and focus was not the best for Sechelt."
Since then he has been investigating options on his own and has found two companies that can build a new sewage treatment plant that is noiseless, odourless and green for a price tag within Sechelt's budget.
Through adding up the District's reserves for sewer treatment, grants, development cost charges to be paid to the District over the next three to four years and contributions from large developments, Henderson suspects there is about $15.9 million available to build now.
But chief financial officer Andrea DeBucy disagreed with Henderson's calculations.
"I haven't had a chance to look at the numbers, but I will tell you right off the bat there are some inaccuracies that I see," she said. "We don't have $4.8 million in grants, we have $3.2 million. And there are a number of other things that are not accurate."
She also said there are a number of budget pressures that are consuming much of the District's reserves this year.
Henderson said that companies were eager to speak with him about the possibility of building a new sewage treatment facility in Sechelt and that an RFP process would result in some competitive proposals coming forward.
"I think it's important that we look at this seriously we need to look at the big picture," said Coun. Keith Thirkell.
Other councillors, however, were not sure about changing course at this stage in the game, and some again called into questions Henderson's calculations.
Mayor Darren Inkster encouraged the community to talk with the chief financial officer to understand the District's monetary constraints and ask any questions around the District's financial ability to build a new treatment plant.
Henderson's presentation will now go to staff to be investigated, and it is expected staff will come back to council with more information at a later date.
