Opinion ID: 1345944
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 11

Heading: conducive to public health, convenience, or welfare

Text: Section 31-730 authorizes the district court to establish an SID if the court determines that the formation of such district will be conducive to the public health, convenience, or welfare. The objectors claim the district court erred in finding that the establishment of the SID would meet this requirement. They argue that the alleged benefit to be derived from the SID is based on speculation and conjecture. We conclude the district court did not err in finding the petitioners had proved by the greater weight of the evidence that the SID would be conducive to the public health, convenience, or welfare of the Johnson Lake community. The record indicates that the water in Johnson Lake has been polluted with fecal coliform. As a result, lake users have faced an increased risk of contracting diseases or viruses. DEQ has declared Johnson Lake an impaired water body. Waste from septic systems has contributed to the contamination. Heavy use of the Johnson Lake area by permanent residents and seasonal and recreational users has created wastewater treatment and disposal problems. More than half of the existing septic systems around Johnson Lake are out of compliance with state setback requirements, which have been implemented in the interest of public health to ensure that waste materials do not seep into water wells and surface water. Civil engineers specializing in sewer and water matters have concluded that septic systems can no longer be relied upon to provide adequate wastewater treatment at Johnson Lake. The objectors further argue that the proposed SID does not meet the public health, convenience, or welfare criterion because less expensive alternatives exist to address the Johnson Lake waste system needs. See § 31-730. The SID statutes do not require the petitioners to prove that the formation of an SID to install a sanitary sewer system is the only, the cheapest, or even the best means of tackling their waste system problems. Under § 31-730, petitioners must show only that the SID will benefit the public health, convenience, or welfare.