Paradise takes the next step toward sewer project
PARADISE » The Paradise Town Council on Tuesday night took another step in its efforts to build a sewer within the town, but the most controversial part of three items regarding the sewer was the makeup of a board.
The council was asked to approve a co-operative work agreement with the city of Chico on building a pipe to Chico’s Water Pollution Control Plant. That agreement, Town Engineer Marc Mattox told the council includes $300,000 to Chico to undertake a specific scope of work as a vendor to the town of Paradise.
The council supported it with a unanimous 5-0 vote and no discussion.
It was the second part of the three items up for discussion including the selection of two councilors to participate in a Central
Valley Regional Water Quality Control boardled committee that participates in the Paradise Sewer Project development.
The only real disagreement on the council came when deciding which two councilors would represent Paradise.
Newly-elected Councilor Rose Tryon immediately volunteered to be on the board, if there were no takers. But there were, as Councilor Jody Jones offered that Councilor Steve Crowder and herself be the town’s representatives on the board.
Her argument was centered on the assertion that she has been the driving force in getting the sewer project off the ground in Paradise.
“I have been working on this since 2014,” she said. “And the mayor and I are the two people left that can participate in this that have the history and I do think that the mayor should be on this committee.”
Councilor Greg Bolin was recused due to owning property in the project area.
That’s when Councilor Steve Culleton recommended Tryon for a spot with Mayor Steve Crowder. Culleton, who was elected to the council in 2020 after losing in 2016, argued that having some fresh eyes on the project might be a good thing.
Crowder who was elected in 2018, said that he’d been a stakeholder in the sewer project since before his election and wanted to continue being involved. Cullerton then told Crowder that he was a property owner in the project area as well.
“I have one property,”
Crowder responded. “And I have been cleared. …”
Culleton then said, “I am just saying; I am just saying,” before Jones made the motion to choose her and Crowder.
That resulted in a 3-1 vote with Culleton voting against it, although Tryon mulled her answer for a couple of seconds before voting to approve Crowder and Tryon. Town Engineer Marc Mattox said that the town staff is expected to present the plan to build a pipe to the Chico City Council on Feb. 2.
The council also authorized Crowder to sign a sponsorship letter that would endorse Assemblyman James Gallagher‘s bill to design-build contracting for the Paradise sewer project. If approved, that could save the town money on the cost of construction.