Sludge Watch ==> Sludge Land Not Likely For Parks

[Steve Smith]

http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/05/16/news/051707rzrogerspark.txt



    Sludge Land Not Likely For Parks


        This article was published on Wednesday, May 16, 2007 8:27 PM
        CDT in News


          By Lori Harrison-Stone <mailto:lstone at nwaonline.net>
          The Morning News

ROGERS, Arkansas -- Some 200 acres next to the Rogers Pollution Control Facility 
isn't being used for spreading sludge, but it's not likely to become a 
city park.

Parks and Recreation Commission members have discussed the property in 
recent weeks as a possible location for a large city park.

"We need a park on that side of town in the worst way," said 
Commissioner Curt King.

Tom McAlister, superintendent of the Rogers Water Utilities, said 
Wednesday the city wastewater treatment plant on Rainbow Road isn't 
using the property for spreading sludge anymore, but it's still being 
used. Liquid effluent produced by the plant is sprayed on about 180 
acres of the property.

The Pollution Control Facility has a limited amount of phosphorus it can 
put into Osage Creek, so part of the effluent is used as irrigation for 
the hay field, McAlister said.

He noted any plan to sell the property or eliminate its use by the 
Rogers Water Utilities would have to be made by the Waterworks and Sewer 
Commission. But, he said, the utility expects to use the property for 
decades to come.

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McAlister also noted the treatment plant continues to have some odor 
issues that might not be conducive to a park setting.

Parks Director Rick Stocker had envisioned a huge complex of youth 
sports fields on the property.

He said Wednesday he hadn't formally discussed the property's future 
usage with the Rogers Water Utilities and he was unaware that it was 
still in use by the treatment plant.