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August 2, 2003Sugar Loaf idea falls flatCounty nixes plan to buy its waste systemByRecord-Eagle staff writer LELAND - Leelanau County won't buy Sugar Loaf resort's wastewater treatment system to handle its growing septic waste disposal needs. County commissioners voted 5-2 Thursday against the $1.5 million plan to purchase the facility at the bankrupt resort. "I'm concerned about funding," commissioner Jean Watkowski said. "It's just an overload on the county and on the residents." The purchase of the plant was only one option Leelanau County had considered to deal with its growing problem of septic waste disposal. Administrator David Gill said officials now will focus on continued land disposal of the waste through private haulers. Another option is a $1.6 million plan to build four collection and storage sites for all county waste before disposal. A number of private haulers, including Houdek Pumping Service, did not support the purchase. "I'm not sure the Sugar Loaf plant was the most solid buy," Madeline Houdek said. Haulers apply 60,000 gallons of waste per year on each of 150 privately owned acres in the county that are available for such use. As population increases, less land is available for the traditional disposal method. Houdek and three other companies are looking at ways to continue with land application, which officials say they will consider. "We can keep the cost more affordable and that's been our gut feeling from the get-go," Houdek said. The companies also would like to form an association to regulate haulers and help develop county-wide guidelines for land application of septic waste. "The haulers presented a good plan and I think we need to revisit and further review that," commissioner Mark Walter said. "It's an option we can do at a much lower cost and the plant will be there if we need it in the future."
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