Tall Timbers residents press parish to fix recurring odor, sewage spills at Westwood wastewater facility

Residents of Tall Timbers told the parish council Tuesday that a nearby wastewater treatment plant has emitted persistent and sometimes severe odors for decades, and asked that the parish finance a substantial upgrade rather than raising utility rates.

Virginia Stroke, a Tall Timbers resident, told the council the smell is “horrific” and said it affects her household and visiting grandchildren. “It emits a horrific stench 24/7 every day of the year,” she said during the public comment period.

Longer context and request: neighbor Michael Henderson urged the parish to use unrestricted utility fund balances rather than raising customer rates to finance repairs, and suggested adding several million dollars to the 2026 utilities capital budget to either retrofit or replace the Westwood facility. Henderson cited the parish’s financial statements and said unrestricted cash and investments are sizable.

Utilities response: Chris Tissue, a utilities staff member, confirmed the site is a wastewater treatment plant (not a drinking‑water facility), acknowledged recurring odor issues and described recent cleanup work after a sewer spill. He said the utilities department spent about $300,000 to replace blowers with sound‑attenuated enclosures to reduce noise and improve treatment efficiency, and has investigated multiple odor‑mitigation options, including chemical masking agents and enclosure measures.

Cost estimates and funding: Tissue told the council that meaningful, lasting odor control will require substantial work — “a significant amount of funding” — and estimated that modest structural or process modifications could cost in the low‑to‑mid six‑figure range, while a full replacement of a comparable plant would be on the order of $10 million. Chief administrative staff (Annie) said projected available cash and investments after the 2026 budget are roughly $4 million, and that the environmental services fund has about $2.2 million budgeted for 2026. Tissue and administration said the utilities department historically relies heavily on grant funding for large projects and will pursue grants where feasible.

Compliance and cleanup: Tissue said the department responded quickly to a recent spill, dispatched crews and disinfected affected areas, and filed the required reports with the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. He described mechanical failures, pump clogs or third‑party damage as common causes of intermittent spills and stressed that small systems sometimes require frequent maintenance.

Council reaction and next steps: Several council members urged a consultant study of the plant and prioritized near‑term fixes. Councilman Bender recommended hiring a consulting engineering firm to evaluate the facility’s structural and process options, and several members expressed support for staff outreach to seek grant opportunities. The council asked utilities staff to assemble a prioritized list of problematic treatment sites and said staff should coordinate with residents about cleanup and communication protocols for future spills.

No votes or budget amendments were taken at the meeting; residents requested that the council consider funding options and possible grant applications for more extensive repairs or replacement.