Learning the Regional Water Quality Control Board has no plans
to fine the City of Hollister when it misses the sewer plant
deadline in October is certainly a relief for local residents whose
tax dollars would have ultimately paid the bill. Fine or no fine,
however, the city is still stuck in a building moratorium that has
stagnated efforts to rekindle Hollister’s economy.
Learning the Regional Water Quality Control Board has no plans to fine the City of Hollister when it misses the sewer plant deadline in October is certainly a relief for local residents whose tax dollars would have ultimately paid the bill. Fine or no fine, however, the city is still stuck in a building moratorium that has stagnated efforts to rekindle Hollister’s economy.
With the latest estimates to complete the new sewer plant and end the moratorium hovering somewhere in 2007, our local business sector needs room to expand and diversify or the city and county will continue to struggle financially. The inability to stimulate new business and encourage locals to spend at home by catering to their needs is very much San Benito County’s economic noose to hang on.
The city’s effort to bury the hatchet with the county and water district over sewage and water-use issues went a long way towards softening the water board. The Hollister City Council should embrace the goodwill extended by the water quality board and try to take it a step further. Council members should fight for business exemptions to the building moratorium until capacity at the current plant is reached or continue to actively pursue above-ground sewage holding tanks that would allow our current companies to grow and new business to start.
Houses, obviously, can wait until the new sewer plant is online, but the city’s tattered business scene certainly cannot endure another couple years of stagnant growth that an extended moratorium will cause.
City staff has remained quiet on the sewer issue and City Manager Clint Quilter has said he won’t publicly discuss any sewer plant plans for at least another month – leaving local residents and businesses in limbo over an incredibly important issue to the future of our town. The council should demand Quilter end his silence and let the public know what the city is doing to protect their interests. Refusing to discuss a project that effects everyone living in Hollister is simply unacceptable. The people of our fair city deserve more disclosure from the man whose paychecks they fund.
To respond to this editorial or comment on this issue, please send or bring letters to Editor, The Hollister Free Lance, 350 Sixth St., Hollister, Calif. 95023 or e-mail to ed****@fr***********.com.
