Waste facility for Montrose County still in works, regulations need changes

MONTROSE — The completion of a much-needed septage waste receiving facility for Montrose County is taking longer than expected, as officials tie loose ends.

The facility, which is viewed as a critical step toward accounting for the county's septage, would be paid for by the county, but managed by the city on its property near the treatment plant.

Engineering plans are progressing but the rules governing system cleaners (septic haulers) — those who would transport septic waste from homes to the disposal site — are still under review. The city is requiring the county to put the regulations in place, and also to enforce them.

Richard Thompson, county environmental health manager, said the draft regulations need changes to ensure compatibility with existing county ordinance. He said the legal department reviewed the regulations.

Engineering plans for the facility have been reviewed by the city, which sent comments in about two weeks ago, said City Municipal Services Director Jim Hougnon said. The property planned for the waste receiving facility is already appropriately zoned for use.

Currently, the city and county are working on a memorandum of agreement and a meeting has been set up to discuss it, Hougnon said.

A septage hauler recently raised concerns about the cost to receive the waste, which was previously estimated to be about 15 cents per gallon, the Daily Press reported.

Hougnon said the fee schedule is calculated based on operational costs to treat septage, a facility offset charge, labor and recapture fee for the county to offset costs of building the facility. He said no profit will be generated from the fee. However, rates for disposal charge won't be finalized until the other costs are set.