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GLENDALE Glendale sewage treatment plant issues show need for upgrade Ongoing lawsuit against city has held up federal funding Comment By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Dec. 27, 2015 at 12:03 AM Updated Dec 27, 2015 at 12:04 AM By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Dec. 27, 2015 at 12:03 AM Updated Dec 27, 2015 at 12:04 AM » Social News GLENDALE — A fire last week that knocked out power at the Glendale sewage treatment plant was just the latest misfortune for the plant, which spills raw sewage into Cow Creek when it rains heavily. The outdated facility, built in 1977, is long overdue for an upgrade and was about to receive one — before a civil rights lawsuit held up $3.8 million in federal funding. The suit was filed in July 2013 by Michael Cassidy and his organization Pacific Community Resource Center after city officials objected to the conversion of a former motel into low-income housing. City officials said Cassidy didn't follow proper procedures for converting the property. Cassidy claimed discrimination, alleging the real issue was that the city didn't want 'that kind of people' — low-income and minorities — housed there. He said some of the tenants are veterans and Native Americans, and alleged violations of the Fair Housing Act and the 14th Amendment. The city prevailed in a trial that was held on the lawsuit in March, but Cassidy has appealed the case to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Meanwhile, the city has lost the millions in grant money that was waiting in the wings. The $3.8 million was Community Development Block Grant money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. It was put on hold by the Oregon Infrastructure Financing Authority, the state agency in charge of disbursing the funding, as the lawsuit made its way through U.S. District Court. With an appeal now pending and no end in sight, it has taken the money back. "Due to that lawsuit, the project was unable to move forward and the city returned the grant money to us in the fall of this year," said Ryan Frank, spokesman for Business Oregon, which oversees the Infrastructure Financing Authority. That means no new sludge treatment system, no new pump station and no overall upgrade for the sewage plant. The overhaul would have enabled the plant to process 2.7 million gallons of wastewater daily — up from the current 490,000 gallons a day. Frank, however, is encouraging Glendale to reapply for the grant money. "Because we recognize the high need, because they had such a competitive grant application last time, we're hoping they reapply," Frank said. There is also the option of taking out a loan and passing on the cost to ratepayers, but Glendale voters have opposed rate increases in the past. The Department of Environmental Quality is aware of the sewage overflows but also knows about the holdup with the lawsuit and Glendale's other challenges. The agency doesn't plan to fine the city anytime soon for the spills, DEQ senior engineer Jon Gasik said. "As long as they do the best they can and keep the project moving forward," he explained. For city officials who already feel hamstrung by the situation, the Dec. 17 fire was an extra blow. The fire, which burned in the plant's control room and water-testing lab, was discovered by employees arriving for work that morning. Firefighters doused the blaze, but not before it gutted that room, knocked the plant offline and brought operations to a halt. "It's been a nightmare of a week," Mayor Adam Jones said. Glendale's neighbors have stepped in to help: Roseburg has sent a generator on loan, other cities have stepped in with additional equipment, and plant operations have partially resumed. Jones was at the plant himself last weekend, working alongside public works crews and others trying to get the facility back online. He's not sure how to fix the city's sewage woes. "It's one of those things that's out of your direct control, it's out of your hands," he said. Cassidy, 73, says the whole thing is a headache for him, too. "I can't believe, at my age, I'm not fishing," he joked, adding, "I didn't want to sue anybody. I've never sued anybody in my life." He says the Silicon Valley law firm Fenwick & West is representing him pro bono in the appeals process. Some of his tenants are co-plaintiffs in the case. On Tuesday afternoon, children were playing in the courtyard of the 14-room former motel on Pacific Avenue under the gray sky. Cassidy said he charges tenants rent on a sliding scale, depending on what each can afford. Current rents range from "zero" to about $400, he said. At present, Cassidy has about nine tenants — mostly women with children but also a couple of veterans and one Native American, he said. The idea is to give people who are struggling a chance to get back on their feet, he said. "We do respite for people in need," he said. For a while, the city was fining Martin, the owner, by the day for failing to comply with city rules. Cassidy said the fines have amounted to more than $300,000 — more than the site is worth. A lien has been placed on the property, and a foreclosure trial is scheduled for March in Douglas County Circuit Court. Martin's attorney, Ryan Kirchoff, said he's been reaching out to city officials to try to find a solution to the impasse that satisfies both sides. His goal, he said, is to "remove the monkey wrench and get everybody back pointed in the right direction." By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Melissa McRobbie Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Dec. 27, 2015 at 12:03 AM Updated Dec 27, 2015 at 12:04 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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