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Fernley residents concerned over the planned fresh water arsenic treatment plant on Mesa Drive will hold informational meetings Thursday and Saturday for issues they claim the city hasn’t addressed.
David Mathewson, who lives at 1265 Mesa Drive, said he’s holding a meeting to get residents to sign a petition against the proposed “toxic element water treatment plant.” He issued a long letter to Fernley Today stating the city of Fernley has failed to address issues including the potential for arsenic dust, potential explosions and chemical accidents, noise, light at night and obstructed views, loss of property values, safety of neighborhood residents during construction and long-term hazards of trucks hauling chemicals.
“We believe if the city is allowed to ram this TWETP down the throats of the west Fernley residents, no Fernley neighborhood will be safe from future City of Fernley arrogance,” Mathewson states in his letter.
The meeting will be held Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1265 Mesa Drive, which is off Main Street. Another session will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
But the city states the plans for the treatment plant have been approved, and it will not pose a health hazard.
City Manager Gary Bacock said the design for Fernley’s fresh water treatment plant is similar to plants built in California, and “in California it’s hard to build anything,” Bacock said.
Bacock said the plant’s three proposed drying ponds don’t necessarily mean airborne arsenic particles and assured residents the process will be safe.
“In removing this material, it will be removed in a way that is legal, safe and not hazardous,” Bacock said.
“One of the biggest complaints people in this area have is they weren’t given any information,” Mathewson said. When asked by a councilman at the July 2 council meeting where he was a year and a half ago when the process began, Mathewson said his jaw just dropped.
“A year and a half ago nobody had an inclination,” Mathewson said.
The city purchased 28.88 acres from James Johnson at a June 21, 2006 meeting. Bacock said at the time, there was no firm plans to site the treatment plant on Mesa Drive. In fact, the city has applications to receive 4,000 acres of federal land from the government, but the process is so long the city couldn’t rely on any specific place, Bacock said.
As engineers looked for potential locations for a treatment plant, the Mesa Drive property rose to the top because of its proximity to water sources.
“One of the things (the city) owns is a substantial amount of surface water,” Bacock said. “The plant will treat groundwater and in the future could treat surface water.” He said the plant sits within 300 yards of a canal and near the Truckee River — both potential future water sources.
The city was recently granted a six month extension from the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection for the treatment center. The plant must be operational by July 23, 2009.
Mathewson is worried the value of his home, which he considered a hidden jewel until recently, will fall as the treatment plant nears completion.
“This is just so unexpected and sad,” Mathewson said. “My wife and I have talked and we don’t think we can live here.”
He encouraged residents to stop by for 10 to 15 minutes to learn more about neighborhood concerns.
David Mathewson, who lives at 1265 Mesa Drive, said he’s holding a meeting to get residents to sign a petition against the proposed “toxic element water treatment plant.” He issued a long letter to Fernley Today stating the city of Fernley has failed to address issues including the potential for arsenic dust, potential explosions and chemical accidents, noise, light at night and obstructed views, loss of property values, safety of neighborhood residents during construction and long-term hazards of trucks hauling chemicals.
“We believe if the city is allowed to ram this TWETP down the throats of the west Fernley residents, no Fernley neighborhood will be safe from future City of Fernley arrogance,” Mathewson states in his letter.
The meeting will be held Thursday from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at 1265 Mesa Drive, which is off Main Street. Another session will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
But the city states the plans for the treatment plant have been approved, and it will not pose a health hazard.
City Manager Gary Bacock said the design for Fernley’s fresh water treatment plant is similar to plants built in California, and “in California it’s hard to build anything,” Bacock said.
Bacock said the plant’s three proposed drying ponds don’t necessarily mean airborne arsenic particles and assured residents the process will be safe.
“In removing this material, it will be removed in a way that is legal, safe and not hazardous,” Bacock said.
“One of the biggest complaints people in this area have is they weren’t given any information,” Mathewson said. When asked by a councilman at the July 2 council meeting where he was a year and a half ago when the process began, Mathewson said his jaw just dropped.
“A year and a half ago nobody had an inclination,” Mathewson said.
The city purchased 28.88 acres from James Johnson at a June 21, 2006 meeting. Bacock said at the time, there was no firm plans to site the treatment plant on Mesa Drive. In fact, the city has applications to receive 4,000 acres of federal land from the government, but the process is so long the city couldn’t rely on any specific place, Bacock said.
As engineers looked for potential locations for a treatment plant, the Mesa Drive property rose to the top because of its proximity to water sources.
“One of the things (the city) owns is a substantial amount of surface water,” Bacock said. “The plant will treat groundwater and in the future could treat surface water.” He said the plant sits within 300 yards of a canal and near the Truckee River — both potential future water sources.
The city was recently granted a six month extension from the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection for the treatment center. The plant must be operational by July 23, 2009.
Mathewson is worried the value of his home, which he considered a hidden jewel until recently, will fall as the treatment plant nears completion.
“This is just so unexpected and sad,” Mathewson said. “My wife and I have talked and we don’t think we can live here.”
He encouraged residents to stop by for 10 to 15 minutes to learn more about neighborhood concerns.
