llB Tuesdayr Oct. 30, 2007 Lassen County Times
Anthony E. Larson
Staff Writer
anthonyelarson@starband.net
Spalding, a resort commu-
nity on the shores of scenic
Eagle Lake, is filled with
happy residents today, thanks
to the completion of a
wastewater system.
"After 20 years of hard
work, waiting and much com-
munity turmoil, the system
was officially certified yester-
day,*' said Stan Walton, chair-
man of the Spalding
Community Services
District, who began as an
unpaid consultant on the pro-
ject, almost from its incep-
tion. "We got the letter from
Lahontan that said that we
did good and we may now go
ahead and utilize the sys-
tem."
Construction on the $12
million project began last
year, and was completed this
fall.
The Spalding saga began in
1984 with an order from the
California Regional Water
Quality Control Board,
Lahontan Region, for zero
discharge into Eagle Lake.
This prohibition was made to
reduce the wastewater inputs
into the lake and to protect
the drinking water supply.
The Spalding community
responded in 1985, forming
the Eagle Lake Community
Services District to address
the issue. The district's board
began exploring ways to solve
the problem, but contention
within the communities and
between individuals in the
district stymied progress.
Frustrated by the commu-
Dignitaries and officials involved in the construction of Spalding's new $12 million wastewater system gather in the crisp autumn
air to cut the ribbon on the sophisticated electronic control system at the system's evaporative ponds.
nity's lack of progress,
Lah0ntan issued a 'cease and
desist' order in 1991, making
any new building in the com-
munity impossible, adding
leverage to generate commu-
nity action.
In 1992, the district changed
its name to the Spalding
Community Services District
and went to work to resolve
the issue. It petitioned the
water board's prohibition to
allow time to consider alter-
natives in order to resolve the
issue.
By 2004, the district, under
the leadership of its board its
chairman Charles Ray and its
manager Merle Lay had certi-
fied the environmental
impact report, arranged a
land ownership agreement
from the Forest Service, pro-
duced designs for a wastewa-
ter collection system, set out
bid specifications and
secured a low interest loan of
over $8 million and nearly $1
million in grant funding for
construction of a wastewater
system.
Rob Tucker, an engineer
with the Lah0ntan board
said, "Each one of those large
milestones took numerous
actions and daily decisions.
This project is a tremendous
undertaking, something your
community should be proud
of. It's amazing to see the
community spirit here."
In a meeting to celebrate
the acceptance of the con-
struction by the water board
that saw the district meeting
place filled to capacity.
Tucker stated, "On ehalf
of the water board and the
executive officer, I would like
15 Minute or
to thank the Spalding
Community Service District,
its board members, the gener-
al manager, Merle Lay, and
the Spalding community for
diligent efforts and accom-
plishments in this major pro-
ject to protect water quality."
Walton saluted the proper-
ty owners in the community,
saying, "We deeply appreciat-
ed their support. There were
times when it was touch and
go, but you did come out by a
great majority and give us
support. That's what pushed
us ahead."
Dave Hartwell, from the
USDA praised the district for
its diligence and frugality.
"The USDA could have
funded this entire project,"
he said, noting that 'doing so
would have meant a much
larger loan and therefore
higher rates for users.
In order to keeps costs as
low as possible, the district
is a model for the type of
sewage disposal system that
can be put in a small commu-
nity. Environmental Health
and Lassen County are very,
very happy with what you've
done here. So, we want to say
thank you."
District 1 Supervisor Bob
Pyle said, "I'm glad to see this
day finally came It's been a
great community effort. It
shows it can work, and it can
happen."
He lauded the district's
board members, chairmen
and manager. "You can't give
these people enough respect
for the time they put in and
the beatings they take. I take
a lot of beatings myself. But,
that's good; I get paid for it. I
don't think they do."
Jim Stoll, an engineer with
Lampe Engineering who was
hired to design the system
and oversee its construction,
said, "It's been five years of a
"They've bent over backward
to deal with a real difficult
situation, with narrow right-
of-ways. We've been digging
down 13 feet in solid rock and
Putting pipe in the ground in
a 20-foot right-of-way. Sundt
has been able to find a way to
do that. I've really been
impressed with the pride they
show in their work. They're a
great organization to work
with."
Lastly, Stoll praised the
community. "We appreciate
you putting up with the dust,
the mud and the inconve-
nience --most of you silently,
but not everybody," he said,
which brought chuckles from
the audience. "We appreciate
the input.
"We tried to spend the
money as if it were our own,
realizing that is was yours
and was in limited supply. I
think you've gotten the best
sewer system for the lowest
price. It wasn't cheap. But I
don't think there's a sewer
system out there we could
have built for less cost."
For herpart, Lay was plain-
ly pleased. "I am so excited.
After 15 years, it's finally a
reality," she said.
Of the former chairman
who pushed the project along
for so many years, she said, "I
want to give a special thanks
to Charlie Ray. He wanted to
be here but couldn't.
"Thanks to all the board
members that were instru-
mental in this. They all
worked for the betterment of
the community," she said,
thanking individuals, friends
and agencies she worked
with. "This is really an excit-
ing moment for all of us."
C
less wait time!
Old fashioned,
fast, friendly
customer
service
We deliver
Medi-Cal, CUSP
and most
insurances. We
applied to two other agencies real adventure It's taken aLay also thanked the 83 per-
for additional grant funds, lot of dedicated people, all cent of the property owners
which impressed Hartwell. pulling in the same direction, who voted to move forward
with the project.
"Just going to one agency for to make it work."
funding is enough of a task. He gave special recognition "When you're behind this
But, to take on two more is to Lay. "She's been tenacious; desk and you get calls every
very commendable, she's been absolutely amaz- day, you wonder where is
"You deserve a lot of credit ing in the way she can get your support," she said. "But,
for that extra effort that was things done --sometimes all they're the silent majority. I
made to keep these costs by herself. Merle, you've done want to thank all those peo-
down," he said. a great job, and this really is a ple."
specialize in Doug Ames, from the credit to you. You've been the She especially thanked
TAR's! Lassen County common -denominator Lassen.Countyand ?P s
You don-tneed Environmeiital -Heaitil through ailof this.'; " "T: -~mm,-"1"ne:,icount~'~I~/a~ed
* $25 000 to gel [ne ~u ana me
to be a patient Department, who has dealt Stoll also praised the dis- '
sewer project under way.
of the clinic to
use our
pharmacy
said "I feel really happy after
all these years that this is
done. It has been a long pro-
cess. This has really saved
your community and allowed
the development that you will
now have to go forward.
"This is a great project that
you have done, together. This
with this issue for 30 years, trict's chairman. "Stan puts
in an incredible number of
hours --unpaid hours His
background in sewer opera-
tion maintenance is extraor-
dinary. His advice, since we
started construction, has
been very valuable."
He praised the contractor,
Sundt Construction.
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"We had no money. I begged
them, and they came
through," said Lay.
When that loan came due a
year later, Lay went to work
again.
"That year was almost up
when I went to Plumas Bank,
and I begged them," she said,
explaining that Plumas
bridged the gap with a $50,000
loan until the grant funding
arrived. "They came through
for us. They said they helped
communities get projects like
this done and I want to
thank them."
Walton summarized in
closing the meeting, saying,
"This, for some time, will be
the largest effort this commu-
nity will ever put forth.
"We've come a long way. I
know there was a time, dur-
ing turmoil, when it was
almost embarrassing to say
you were a Spalding resident.
That's no longer is the case. I
think today" being a Spalding
resident should be like a
badge of honor. The reason
for that is we've all made a
major contribution into pre-
serving the wellbeing of
Eagle Lake. I know there've
been times when each and
every one of you, and I'll
admit myself we looked at
it and said, 'Is it really worth
this?'
"If you ever wonder if it's
worth it, just look to the East
before daylight and watch
that sunrise. Watch Eagle
Lake come to life. You know
that you have contributed to
the wellbeing of that, not
only for ourselves but (also)
for the next two or three gen-
erations. And in my mind,
that's well worth it.
'2 know it has left some
scars on this community. It is
the desire of the present
board that we slow the pace
down a little bit and start to
address the other needs of
the community. We have
every intention of doing that
listening more than direct-
ing. We want to try to enter a
period of some healing and
try to remove some of those
scars. I think if we all work
together, we can do that."
