Subdivision to build onsite plant for sewage

The Daily Inter Lake

After several attempts to connect to the Evergreen sewer system, a proposed subdivision on East Reserve Drive now has no choice but to develop its own onsite sewage treatment plant.

Andrew Farris received preliminary approval two years ago to build the 54-lot project on 18 acres located just east of La Salle Road, but progress stalled while he tried to work out the sewer issue.

Three of the lots are located inside the Evergreen sewer district. However, the remaining lots can't connect to Evergreen's collection system unless both the district and Kalispell agree.

Kalispell offered Farris a slim opening last month, when it said he could connect - provided that ownership of any new sewer lines would be transferred to the city if and when Kalispell annexes the area. Until then, the lines would be owned by the Evergreen district.

However, that opening closed recently when the Evergreen sewer board rejected the compromise, saying the district had to own all the lines that connected to its system.

Farris now has no option but to proceed with his previous plans to build an onsite treatment plant.

The Flathead County commissioners recently approved Farris's request to create an independent sewer district for his subdivision. The Department of Environmental Quality still has to approve the specific treatment plant option he's proposing to use. A licensed operator also will be required to manage the system.