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Millville flushes sewer proposal By
Kyle S. Loosle MILLVILLE -- Two new members were elected to the City Council last week and voters flushed the idea of a sewer system. By almost a four-to-one margin, 383 to 100, voters opposed the idea of Millville constructing a sewer system. Many of those who opposed the sewer thought the $40 monthly fee, based on a proposal by Sunshine Engineering, was too high. The election saw about a 59 percent turnout of 824 registered voters. At an open house five days before the election, Millville residents voiced concern about the cost of the sewer sytem. "Several elderly people stood up at the open house and, flat out said, they couldn't afford the payment," said David N. Hair, one of the successful candidates for a council seat. Several citizens, including Mayor Gale Hall, questioned how long the monthly fee would stay fixed. Many citizens asked the council if members could promise no increase in the fee, for the long haul. The council said there was no way to promise the future, but said the monthly fee would stay the same, for at least the first few months. Hall's concern was connecting to lines in Logan, where the regional treatment facility is. In the future, Logan may ask for additional funding to treat Millville's waste. Many of those who voted in favor of the sewer thought the package Sunrise offered was too good to pass up. The cost for the $5 million project would be paid by a $2 million grant from the state and $3 million in a non-interest loan. Those asked said, regardless of their own opinion, they were glad the issue was put before the voters. "Citizens should make the choice with this much money at stake,\" said Councilman Duane Harvey. Harvey, who collected 63 percent of votes in the primary, narrowly missed being re-elected to one of two seats available. The vote, which had to be recounted, gave Hair 314 votes and Jamie Skeen, a newcomer to Millville, 245, to edge out Harvey's 237. The original count had Skeen at 249 and Harvey at 244. Robert Bates received 128 votes and Mayor Hall, running unchallenged for re-election, had 431 votes. "I can't be too disappointed; I voted for her," said Harvey about Skeen's victory. Harvey, a resident of Millville for 16 years, said he has a better appreciation for what goes on within the city. Although he has no plans to run again when three seats open in 2004, he said it wasn't out of the question. He plans to keep involved by doing volunteer work for the city and taking an active role in subcommittees. "I want to be remembered for trying to represent the citizens well, listening to their concerns and being a voice of reason," said Harvey. Councilman David Mortensen will join Harvey in not returning to next year's council. Hair will return for his second term on the council, after spending the last four years on Millville's planning and zoning commission. "People came to me and asked if I wouldn't run again. Some of the members on the council have been liberal," said Hair, a resident of Millville for 18 years, about why he decided to return to the council. Hair said one thing he would try to change is Millville's tax on cell phones, $1 per month for each user. He also said he doesn't believe in private agendas and would do his best to listen to residents. The new council members will be sworn in Jan.1 after going through training. "It's mostly the do's and don'ts and what to look out for," said Hair about his experience with the training.
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