Voters hit the polls in Lava Hot Springs sewer bond election

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Story Published: Aug 4, 2009 at 4:57 PM MST

Story Updated: Aug 4, 2009 at 7:32 PM MST

By Wes Horrocks

LAVA HOT SPRINGS - Residents are deciding how to fund a wastewater improvement project.

The city is hoping voters will approve a multi-million dollar bond to pay for the work, otherwise they might lose out on federal grants.

For a city with only a few hundred residents there has been a steady flow of people at the polls.

They're voting on a $7.8 million dollar bond. If approved it will be repaid, in part, by increased fees. Carolyn Gunter, a five-year resident opposed to the bond said, "I just don't want my bills being raised any more than they already are."

Glenda Heath, an 11-year resident in favor of the bond said, "This is something that we need to have done, and it's a big issue."

The issue is that the current sewer system allows nitrates to get into the Portneuf River, which the Department of Environmental Quality wants changed. Heath said, "The sewer system that we have right now is just not functioning."

Those opposed to the bond aren't necessarily against any changes, they know that something needs to be done, and they just want the city to consider more options.

One suggestion includes setting up more port-a-potties over the summer to help with the strain on the current system. "Is there another way? Have we really looked at all the aspects?" asked Gunter.

Engineers want to stop the water that is currently being sent into the river and instead pump it into a field to soak up the nitrates.

If the bond fails the city would either hold a new election in the fall, or go through judicial confirmation, which would cause them to lose about $3 million in federal grants. Gutner said, "They don't want us dumping any more stuff into the river, which I am very much for, but why didn't they think about this beforehand?"

The bond passed by a vote of 90 to 17.

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