By FERN NELL BECHER | Norwalk
We have been reading some interesting articles in our local newspapers. In the Thursday, June 9, La Crosse Tribune, in an article entitled “Dairyland cranking up turbines,” it is noted that Dairyland Power Co-op is cranking up wind power, generating nearly $400,000 a year in revenue for Lafayette County and town of Seymour.
A few weeks ago, we read about the new organic business in Cashton that states 65 percent of its electricity is coming from its wind turbines and solar panels. It’s amazing what can be accomplished when citizens of a municipality cooperate to get things done. Like the old saying goes, “United we stand, divided we fall.”
We are reminded of Ridgeville and Monroe County’s opportunity to also benefit from a wind farm, but this project was stopped by the efforts of a group that called itself “Focus on Monroe County’s Future.” I guess we are now living in that “future” they were “focused” on, where things in our townships and county are at a point of no return, with no money to fix the roads, pay for equipment, etc., spending more and getting less for our money. For example, the original plan for the jail would have cost far less and included a parking lot.
It would be interesting to know how many rural homeowners have received letters from the Monroe County Sanitation Department, besides us and St. John’s Church at Ridgeville, telling us our septic system is failed. Who should know better than the people living here? In fact, per a discussion with a team member in the private on-site water-treatment systems, we were informed that a septic system cannot be condemned because of its age so long as it is still working properly — which ours is and has always worked as it was designed to work. There is no stream running from the septic.
On Oct. 20, 2015, we received an email from the Monroe County Sanitation, Zoning & Dog Control Administrator stating, “I received a complaint that the septic … is failed. I am required to investigate every complaint received.” To our knowledge, the administrator never came out to do an inspection, but we went ahead and had our septic pumped and, upon informing the administrator of this, it was our understanding that the issue was resolved.
On May 28, 2016, we received a short letter from the administrator that read, “On May 18, 2016, I drove by … as a follow-up to a complaint that was received last fall alleging that sewage was discharging to the surface of the ground … Most likely you will need a replacement system … I have outlined what steps must be taken … (1) The first step … is to have a certified soil tester do a soil and site evaluation (perc test) on the property to determine the type and location of the new system. (2) The next step is to choose a master plumber to design and install the new system … Please havea sanitary permit by June 30, 2016, and the replacement system installed by July 31, 2016.”
Are all complaints handled in this manner, with homeowners being ordered to replace their current system when there is no proof that a problem even exists? If it ain’t broke, why fix it? We were not told that the cost of the perc test would be $500 (tester receives $400 and county receives $100), nor were we told the master plumber charges $12,000 more or less to replace the system.
Living on Ridgeville, a mile or two from the landfill, we have to put up with a foul stench whenever the wind blows from the wrong direction. Meanwhile, we continue to try to keep our property in good repair as needed.
