North Ooltewah residents undivided in dissent to sewage plant proposal [photos]

Community members listen during a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting. Community members listen during a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting.

By Judy Walton October 23, 2018 4 min read

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Ooltewah residents

Mitchell Scoggins and his wife Sara arrive at a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting.

Joe Lay arrives at a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting.

Duane Kanerva collects signatures on a petition before a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting.

Hamilton County Mayor Jim Coppinger listens during a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting.

Eric Griesemer asks a question during a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting.

Scott McDonald answers questions during a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting.

Community members react to an answer during a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting.

Duane Kanerva, who says his home is the closest to the proposed sewage treatment plant location, points to a sign during a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting.

Brent Smith asks a question during a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting.

Community members raise their hands in answer to a question at a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting.

William Cobb speaks during a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting.

Brian Cannon points a finger at Scott McDonald as he asks a question during a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting.

WWTA Executive Director Mark Harrison answers a question at a Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority public input session at Central High School on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2018, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Community members spoke in opposition to a proposed sewage treatment plant in Ooltewah during the meeting.

North Ooltewah neighbors were a bit more polite but not any less adamant Tuesday than last week in rejecting the idea of a new sewage treatment plant.

More than half the bleacher seats in the Central High School gym were filled for the second public hearing on the proposal by the Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority to build the plant on Mahan Gap Road.

A third and final hearing is set for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Nov. 8 in the same location.

Some two dozen speakers stood up one by one to roundly condemn the idea of putting a sewage treatment plant in an area of 3,500 homes and at least two elementary schools. And they said it’s unfair for them and their neighbors to face shrinking property values, possible health hazards and sewage stink when the plant mainly would benefit others.

The WWTA and its consultants say the 157-acre site is the least costly because it offers more gravity drainage and less need of expensive pump stations to collect wastewater and release clean water into the Tennessee River.