City excuses for odors unacceptable

Recent city of Whitefish excuses for obnoxious odors from its wastewater plant are unacceptable.

According to a May 3 Whitefish Pilot article, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality issued an administrative order four years ago ordering the city to address its out of compliance treatment facility. Now the city says wait until 2021 and it will be fixed; it looks like the last four years were wasted.

We can’t make up lost time, however the city needs to roll up its sleeves and make addressing this issue a top priority. Things it should do include: 1) Look at ways to accelerate its lengthy public works design, bid and construction award processes and timelines. 2) Stop exacerbating the problem; a building moratorium should be put in place until the facility is in full compliance. 3) Immediately retain sewage lagoon and odor control experts to evaluate the facility and recommend interim improvements, process changes, etc. to reduce odors.

— Dave Jochim, Whitefish