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Local News

October 30, 2009

Amendment passed to allow for development

Kevin Kerr

DUNCAN — During Tuesday’s regular Duncan City Council meeting, the council approved an amendment to allow applicants that may be looking to develop land in the Stagestand Creek drainage basin to make applications for a private sewage disposal system.

The amendment says that anyone who wants to develop and build a private sewage disposal system, such as a lift station, can do so in the Stagestand Creek basin. The private disposal systems would be allowed to connect into existing public sewage systems in the Claridy Creek drainage basin.

“It’s more of an interim sewage solution for now,” Community Development Director Dana Schoening said.

The intention was to allow for development north of the city of Duncan to progress, but also to allow time for the city to develop potential plans for expansion and to prepare for a public system in the Stagestand Creek basin.

“There is discussion already to consider earmarking funds to put in for a sewage facilities plan for the Stagestand basin,” Schoening said.

Until then, this amendment will allow for the city to grow without having to rush into developing a sewage disposal system for that particular basin.

“We must have a plan first to give good information to know what improvements are needed for allowance of a public system in that area,” Schoening said.

“We anticipate the city council, at some point in the future, will be asked to consider facilities for that drainage basin.”

Duncan resident Jim Edwards told the council that a private lift station, would be the first step for growth to the north, however, he did say that questions came up about who would maintain the lift station if it was private.

“The DEQ (Department of Environmental Quality) recommended a public system so the city would cover the maintenance and upkeep,” Edwards said to the council. “So, we could possibly vote on a public system as well.”

If a public system were eventually developed in that area, then any private systems that might be developed will have to connect into the new public system.

“If and when the city does provide for public sewage facilities in the Stagestand drainage basin,” Schoneing said, “the applicant that previously had this private system would have to connect to the public system, and that is a requirement.”

Councilman Michael Hale assured that just because the amendment had been passed, it doesn’t mean it would be instituted immediately.

“It provides us with another option,” Hale said. “We’re not saying we’re going to step out and do anything with it.

“It would just be wise to have it as an option if developers do come forward.”

No one has placed an application for land development in this area yet, but the city felt it was wise to allow for the possible development if someone did come forward.

Mayor Gene Brown said that this has been a “touchy, touchy subject” for quite some time now, and agreed that with the obvious growth to the north, that changes would have to be made.

“But we want to see it done right,” Brown said.

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