Lake Forest Voters OK New Water/Sewer District To Address DNR Issues

The voters in the Lake Forest Estates subdivision overwhelmingly voted for the establishment of a common water and sewer district last week in the lone county election.

The vote was 305-12 with a 68-percent voter response in the county’s first all-mail ballot election.

Mark Basler, who was one of the supporters of the measure, was surprised it wasn’t a more decisive result.

“I was very happy and kind of surprised that even 12 people didn’t vote for it,” Basler said. “I didn’t understand that.”

Basler, who will be one of five people who will be part of the first board for the district, said the supporters tried to get as much information as possible into the hands of residents. He said information was posted on a website. Literature was distributed at the Lake Forest Post Office, where supporters also answered questions. And three meetings took place that were open to Lake Forest residents.

“We tried real hard to make sure everybody understood what was going on and what the consequences were if we didn’t get this done,” Basler said, “and it worked out fine.”

The Lake Forest Estates Community Association, which currently provides sewer and water service for more than 275 improved lots in the subdivision, was informed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) that the sewer system violates Missouri’s clean water laws and must be upgraded to be brought into compliance.

Voters were asked to create a common sewer and water district “for the purpose of acquiring, constructing, improving, equipping, operating, and maintaining a common sanitary sewer system and a common water supply and distribution system for the benefit of individuals residing within” the subdivision.

With the election result, the  newly formed district can begin to seek funding for system repairs. The improvements are estimated at about $5 million.

See complete story in the November 13 edition of the Herald,