Beautiful Windjammer Park in Oak Harbor probably isn't the ideal spot for a wastewater treatment plant, but at least the current one is fairly understated. It's about to be replaced by something far more massive.
"It's basically folding over onto our gem, which is our main city park," explains Mayor Scott Dudley.
Dudley says the city is getting ready to spend $113 million, about double what he says it should, on a new plant.
"We should be looking in the neighborhood of $57 million," Dudley said.
He says the cost keeps climbing, and the project will close down portions of Windjammer for three years, including an RV park that brings in about $80,000 in tourism a year for the city.
"These parks get used a lot. There was a huge crowd on opening day," says Tom Tevit, who lives in Oak Harbor.
There is no question that people will be paying more, but the mayor says if the project ends up costing $113 million, the wastewater portion of the utility bill will nearly double from about $55to almost $100.
At least one city councilmember says the mayor is jumping the gun.
"It's way too early to tell our public we're going to spend $113 million on this facility, because I don't believe we are," explainsCouncilman Bob Severns.
Severns says the project is only 30 percent designed, but it's supposed to break ground in August. Dudley is concerned the council won't cut the wasteful spending out of the wastewater project before then.
"Could there be a better decision made? Absolutely," Dudley said.
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