MILLERSBURG, Mo. - By Linda Oberman's estimation, her neighborhood has spent more than $19,000 on fixes and fines for its sewage lagoon.
"We have 16 lots on a 1-acre lagoon," she said. "We're not going to be able to pass (the Department of Natural Resource's tests). We can't meet the ammonia requirements."
Oberman is the president of the Country East Home Owner's Association. She was one of about 17 Millersburg residents at Monday's meeting about forming a Callaway County sewer district.
The concept of a sewer district has been floating around since 2014, according to Kent Wood, environmental and public health specialist for the Callaway County health department.
Of the county's more than 50 permitted National Pollutant Discharge Eliminate Systems, most are out of compliance with DNR discharge regulations in some way, Wood said. Millersburg alone contains 15 NPDES.
Many were built decades ago, when the Environmental Protection Agency and DNR's guidelines were less stringent.
Those systems are largely operated by small subdivisions and neighborhoods that cannot afford the DNR's fines or the cost of comprehensive system improvements.
"According to the DNR guidelines, we could be fined up to $10,000 per day," Oberman said.
Many of these small operators have approached the county for help, Wood said. However, they're technically out of the health department's jurisdiction. A board-governed county sewer district would be able to apply for grants and low-interest loans to fix and revamp NPDES. They would also be able to more effectively work with the DNR.
That's why Woods department is helping put a sewer district on the April 3 ballot.
"We don't make sewer districts, but we're going to try," he said.
For now, the prospect of a sewer district forming has been enough for the DNR to back down.
"The DNR is working with us to halt legal action," Wood said.
During his talk, he reiterated the sewer district would be opt-in only.
"If you're in a subdivision where everything is peachy and keen and you say, 'No thanks,' we won't bother you," he said. "If that changes, come see us and we'll help you out."
The initial sewer district board will likely be chosen by the county commissioners, Wood said, adding he and the commissioners agree board members should be from communities affected by the districts.
Only residents of subdivisions and communities opting into the district would pay for it. Wood emphasized the sewer district won't be paid for with tax money. Users would face a monthly rate, much like Fulton residents do for their city sewer usage.
To become a reality, the sewer board will need a simple majority of votes.
Eager Millersburg residents are already getting the word out. John McAtee said he knocked on 30-40 doors before the meeting, encouraging his neighbors to come. Oberman said she picked up a stack of fliers from Wood to distribute.
Oberman said he fears getting votes might prove difficult as many Callaway County residents won't be affected one way or another by the sewer district - or may misunderstand its purpose.
"I ran into it this evening," she said. "A person said to me, 'I don't need it, and I don't care.' But I need it."
Wood and the county environmental department have scheduled other meetings in Callaway County communities. View the full list at bit.ly/2B0fhb7, or call Wood at 573-642-5750.