MONTVERDE, Fla – People who live in Montverde were surprised to find out the town council was considering a new location for its proposed wastewater treatment facility.
While News 6 was not able to confirm the location with the town, people who live here said the proposed site is at Ridgewood Avenue and Lake Street.
Residents aren’t only concerned because it’s close to their homes; it’s also close to the town’s water tower.
“Would anybody think they would put a sewer plant next to their water tower?” said Montverde resident Randy Ellman.
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People said they aren’t against the facility, they’re against the new location.
“It’s the new location,” said Montverde resident, Bob Tomlinson. “That’s the problem. It’s not the problem on having a sewer treatment plant, we know we need that and we know we’re going to be mandated to have that down the line.”
During a special meeting on June 4, the town council voted unanimously to pass a resolution to either negotiate the purchase of the property with the owner or acquire it through eminent domain.
“In short we kind of got here because our original property was no longer workable for us because the state of Florida changed their guidelines or what have you,” asked Councilwoman Carol Womack during the June 4 special meeting.
“Well the biggest issue is the infiltration of the effluent into the ground, it just doesn’t absorb rapid enough on the site just basically because of how the site lays,” said Town Manager Paul Larino during the June 4 meeting.
News 6 reached out to the mayor and the town manager of Montverde to see if they wanted to speak about the wastewater treatment facility.
The mayor told News 6 he wasn’t able to, and the town manager said he was busy.
However, Larino did send a statement, which says:
“The town of Montverde has been exploring options for a wastewater treatment plant for over four years. Except for one new subdivision, the entire town is serviced by septic systems on each lot. Due to the town’s proximity to the impaired Lake Apopka waterbody, the entire town lies within the boundaries of the Upper Ocklawaha River Basin Management Action Plan, also known as the BMAP. Over the past several years, Florida legislators have empowered the BMAP to improve water quality by compelling towns to come up with plans to reduce the nutrient loads in their BMPA areas. The town has been fortunate to receive over $28 million in grants to help it accomplish its requirements to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus entering the waterways. The town understands and appreciates the concerns about having the wastewater treatment plant in proximity to homes. However, the topography, wetlands, groundwater, and other factors limit many locations in and around town. The town is working to design a plant that will have the least possible impact on the community while still meeting our obligation to the BMAP.”
Montverde Town Manager Paul Larino
During a special meeting on Tuesday evening at the Montverde Town Hall, a motion was made to cease the purchase of the property and go in a different direction.
“After listening to you guys for all this time, I realize now it was a mistake to put it in that spot...” Town Councilman Jim Ley said. “Your opposition has really made it possible.”
Instead, the town plans to have staff explore the option of using advanced septic systems. The staff will begin putting a study together to determine whether that option works.
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