2008 Woodie Awards
Rohnert Park and SSU square off over a river of raw sewage
David Abbott
Issue date: 11/1/06 Section: Editorial
It looks as if another standoff between SSU and the city of Rohnert Park is looming, this time over a request by the university for increased sewer capacity to accommodate our explosive capital growth. Apparently, the city has denied a request for greater capacity, and further, SSU will be forced to pay a 15 percent surcharge for exceeding current discharge limits.
On Sept. 25, Senior Director for Facilities Services Richard Marker sent a letter to Darrin Jenkins, public works director and city engineer of Rohnert Park. In the letter, Marker requested an increase in capacity that would more than double SSU's current "dry weather month flow" of 0.25 million gallons per day (MGD).
Marker intimated that SSU may be approaching capacity, and requested an increase to 0.55 MGD. The letter seemed to reflect confidence that the city would graciously acquiesce to the request, and the university expected to receive a "written response confirming acceptance of the increase before October 17, 2006."
Oct. 17 came and went before Rohnert Park responded, and I don't think the response was one that the university wanted. Given the state of current "town and gown" relations, particularly regarding utilities for the proposed faculty/staff housing project, I don't know if it should have been all that unexpected.
In a letter dated Oct. 24, the city laid out its view of the issue, and it wasn't pretty for fans of campus expansion. The term "smack down" came to my mind the first time I read it.
The letter began with regrets that "Rohnert Park does not have additional sewer capacity service to grant SSU at this time, and your application is hereby denied."
The City then proceeded to take off the gloves. Jenkins pointed out that in August 2006, SSU exceeded its capacity service agreement-using 0.26 MGD during that month-"without acquiring or providing additional capacity."
Therefore, in addition to the surcharge, "(SSU is) hereby notified to obtain compliance with this agreement and are, per the agreement, required to place a moratorium on sewer connections until compliance can be obtained. This moratorium must include the proposed Green Music Center and any other projects not currently discharging to the sewer system."
On Sept. 25, Senior Director for Facilities Services Richard Marker sent a letter to Darrin Jenkins, public works director and city engineer of Rohnert Park. In the letter, Marker requested an increase in capacity that would more than double SSU's current "dry weather month flow" of 0.25 million gallons per day (MGD).
Marker intimated that SSU may be approaching capacity, and requested an increase to 0.55 MGD. The letter seemed to reflect confidence that the city would graciously acquiesce to the request, and the university expected to receive a "written response confirming acceptance of the increase before October 17, 2006."
Oct. 17 came and went before Rohnert Park responded, and I don't think the response was one that the university wanted. Given the state of current "town and gown" relations, particularly regarding utilities for the proposed faculty/staff housing project, I don't know if it should have been all that unexpected.
In a letter dated Oct. 24, the city laid out its view of the issue, and it wasn't pretty for fans of campus expansion. The term "smack down" came to my mind the first time I read it.
The letter began with regrets that "Rohnert Park does not have additional sewer capacity service to grant SSU at this time, and your application is hereby denied."
The City then proceeded to take off the gloves. Jenkins pointed out that in August 2006, SSU exceeded its capacity service agreement-using 0.26 MGD during that month-"without acquiring or providing additional capacity."
Therefore, in addition to the surcharge, "(SSU is) hereby notified to obtain compliance with this agreement and are, per the agreement, required to place a moratorium on sewer connections until compliance can be obtained. This moratorium must include the proposed Green Music Center and any other projects not currently discharging to the sewer system."