At the time of the sewer fee increase matter, I received a 3-page letter from a friend about how sewering Sedona was a driving force behind incorporation. She wrote:

“We were told constantly that ALL of us [a lie] were polluting the ground water. It didn’t matter where we lived or the condition of our septic systems, we were all guilty. The first ones to be hit with the sewer were those of us in Harmony Hills….Uptown wasn’t connected until many years later. Why all the talk about Oak Creek pollution in the Sedona area?……It was one grand charade…..People who attended the meetings were almost under the spell of a narcotic. They were not used to the manipulation that authority could render…..”

Still, today, almost 40% of Sedonans need to be hooked up to the sewer, with no plans to do so in sight. Talk of septic tanks polluting the ground water is no longer going around. Of course, not abandoning good working septic systems and having bad systems get into compliance was not an option at the time of incorporation.

What might voting down incorporation and/or the sewer bonds have avoided? Overdevelopment that resulted in the bulk of the drainage problems and damage, a boondoggle and money-pit of a WW system, per capita bond debt [mostly all WW plant bonds] that is the 5th highest of Arizona’s 91 cities, one of the highest sales taxes in the nation, a monster City government, manipulative and out-of-control upper City management staff, City Council’s wanton disdain towards Sedona’s taxpaying public, ETC. Where will it all end?

Translated: Is anyone else still around who will recall the “M” word being batted around from the State level (ADEQ)? Further translation: “M” word = “moratorium” on any new building projects in Sedona unless adequate sewage disposal is implemented.

Doesn’t the “fact” that all of Sedona wasn’t connected to the sewer prior to new construction pretty much prove the “incorporation/sewer scare” was simply a cover-up to accommodate new development?

Why is it that many promoters of incorporation packed their bags and shamefully left Sedona not long after they realized the scam they had unknowingly been promoting quickly turned to reality as developers lined up at City Hall and the areas, some still on septic systems, were blatantly ignored as capacity was hogged by premature development, much of which should still be on the waiting list instead of those who prepaid and are now asking for refunds on their good-faith pre-payments for a service they will most likely never get.

And, let us now perhaps somehow tie this into the pay or else situation befalling victims of yet another city creation in many instances: faulty drainage – as the decision-makers opt to pursue parks, creek walks, art galleries, land acquisition as the list continues at the expense of “those who don’t want to pay for anything.” Who is it making that conclusion and on what basis?

All this history is unfortunate but at this point history as is the incredible stench of “septic” as one entered the old “oak creek owl” bar and restaurant parking lot on the creek at the site of Exposures Gallery.

I see the costs and the ridiculous fees – like a non use fee – as a result of mismanagement of the project and needs, really needs to be redesigned from management and financial aspects. A lot can happen when you take the blame out and take a hard look at real priorities.

As I recall, quite a few Sedona Eye articles of July and August–with abundant comments–covered drainage problems and funding options therefor. I.e., special improvement districts, unlimited secondary property taxes secured by General Obligation Bonds (must be approved by voters), or whatever.

Getting more money by going after hard-pressed taxpayers is no longer a rarity due to various failed policy decisions of the City. We have become prey.

Monthly residential fees are excessive due to the enormous amount of bonded indebtedness. Refinancing is in the City’s DNA, not saving to pay off the callable portion of WW bonds early. Payments on the Series 2012 refunding bond obligations ($8,395,000) are INTEREST ONLY through 2025. They have a future call date of July 1, 2021, at which time the City would be able to refinance the debt again, or repay the debt early.

BTW, in that it was the driving force behind incorporation, without proof residents were told ALL were polluting the ground water. It’s impossible to believe a significant number of residential septic systems were not in good working order and polluting Oak Creek.

Couple other issues needing to be added to the discussion and ones I guess Debra T and Jean are not aware of: Appreciate Dan’s writings but he missed the mark.

First and foremost it was residents combined with business’s that caused the need for a better septic or central treatment system. But more importantly it was the folks who wanted incorporation and cried wolf on the reality of how supposedly bad septic systems were…..one place that comes to mind was uptown and buildings owned my Dr MacFarland…that he rented out and allowed raw sewage running down by the buildings he owned. (his wife – Anita MacFarland got the newest birdie ponds passed by council – can’t even figure out how she became charmed of birds as he wasn’t – he just ignored reality)

Residents along the creek were supposed to also be partof the problem. Residents off the creek were added to the issue…and then the mother’s and father’s of incorporation scared the hell out of everyone …and the rest is history.

Reality? Yes there was a Consent Decree. That is the only factual statement in all of the above posts and Dan’s article!

Yet none of you know that the Consent Decree only came about in 1994 or 1995 (well after incorporation) as a result of a major breach in the sewer system lines that sent the raw sewage spewing out of a manhole and down into Carroll Canyon.

Other reality is that an early Council passed a dedicated 2% Sales Tax hike dedicated to only Wastewater…and now our Council has figured out how to deviously steal money away from those revenues to accommodate their personal, political Santa Lists.

The next issue is almost the most flagrant: Our current Council has also figured out how to charge citizens who own vacant lots where an existing sewer line runs in front of that lot.

What am I talking about? Easy: they passed a law saying they will charge a fee for not hooking up!!!! it runs about $29/month. I’m serious – even as this just sounds crazy!

Question to all readers and Council and Staff: Have you ever heard of APS, Arizona Water Co, Oak Creek Water Co, Sudden Link, Unisource Gas, etc. – asking anyone to pay for services the property owners are not partaking of? Of Couse Not!

So Debra T and Jean….lets really hold this absurd council’s toes to the fire!

Insanity at it’s best is what I call our situation!

Anyone know how to cure insanity or crazy or infuse people in charge with brains?

May I suggest you ask the city council and staff why they are more concerned about buying land for parks, creek walks, feasibility study for multipurpose facility at the sewer plant, over and above giving out millions, yes millions of $$$ to each and every alleged “non-profit” standing in line at city hall for the taking? Unless city council and staff begin to display an earnest support for residents living within incorporated Sedona instead of their devotion to the Chamber of Commerce who continue to monopolize city hall only to drum up business for those who do not collect city taxes, why shouldn’t residents revolt to high sewer bills and increased taxes that have been created due to misdirected leadership?

Pollution from tourist businesses near Oak Creek begot the ADEQ Consent Decree and the WWTP. The City is socializing the enormous debt on the WW bonds plus other costs on the backs of residential ratepayers who: (1) had no part in polluting Oak Creek and (2) were/are not responsible for paying to run sewer lines out to the borders of new developments.

I used to bird the treatment plant with the local Audubon Society after moving to Sedona 12 years ago. There were approximately 5 ponds adjacent to Hwy 89A where the “new wetlands” location is. Just as our local streets and drainage history, these ponds were not maintained. Eventually plant-life overgrowth became a problem (planned?). Eventually cows were allowed to graze the area and woof down the vegetation. Next taxpayers got a prohibitively expensive “new wetlands”–with algae and not that many bird species and numbers–to replace a fine wetlands with diversity.

Hmmm. According to the City Engineer during the Council’s April 26, 2013 Budget Workshop: The cost for the design and construction to expand the wetlands is $1 million. $1.6 million is the cost for the current injection well, with the possibility of a second well. He doesn’t know if injection will work. There are wetlands’ capacity enhancements needed for 2 million gallons/day. We’re now at about 1.1 or 1.2 million. He doesn’t know how much water the plant can take.

BTW, now scheduled for next fiscal year at an estimated cost of $250,000: Feasibility Study of a Multi-Purpose Facility at the WWTP.