To the Editor,
When my husband and I
purchased property in Big Sky more than 18 years ago, I was impressed with the
Big Sky County Water and Sewer District investment in our community, namely the
large holding ponds that we drove by. Now I live here fulltime, and I attend
the monthly Big Sky County Water and Sewer District meetings as my schedule
permits. I’ve read the numerous articles in community newspapers and heard the
discussion at the meetings on the need to upgrade and expand the wastewater
treatment plant. I am heartened that the BSCWSD has partnered with the Big Sky
Resort Area Tax District to help fund, at least partially, the upgrade and
expansion project through the 1 percent increase in the resort tax for
infrastructural projects.
The BSCWSD expansion of the
current wastewater treatment plant will serve community growth via planned
development and workforce housing, and the upgrade in the treatment technique
will better protect the Gallatin River watershed.
If the 1 percent increase is
not approved by the voters, the folks living within the boundaries of the
district will likely see their rates for services doubled. The wastewater plant
upgrade and expansion must happen as the existing plant is not able to keep up
with treatment demands. This is our community’s opportunity to have tourists
and visitors to our fair community help us fund this critical piece of our
infrastructure. I urge all BSCWSD rate payers to vote responsibly for this
needed funding stream as it will benefit our community for many years to come.
Mary Ann Comstock
Big Sky, Montana