Op-Ed: Why Building Our Own Wastewater Facility Is the Right Move for Victor

By Mayor Will Frohlich 

What kind of community do we want to be in 10 years? One that relies on a broken system and hopes for the best—or one that takes responsibility for its future? That’s the question behind Victor’s decision to build our own Class A wastewater treatment facility. 

For two decades, we’ve sent our wastewater 10 miles north to a plant that has struggled with repeated failures, permit violations, and now a full rebuild just to meet the bare minimum. We’ve paid nearly half of their improvement costs, and even then, we were overbilled. After all that, the system is still polluting our water. 

Victor deserves better. Building our own Class A facility means we stop relying on a broken system and start doing things right. This isn’t about growth—it’s about responsibility. It’s about clean water, protecting our environment, and ensuring we have dependable infrastructure for decades to come. 

We’ve already engaged one of the most qualified engineering teams in the region and are working closely with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to make sure this facility meets the highest standards. As the design moves forward, residents will have opportunities to learn more and share input. This is a big step toward a reliable, locally managed solution that reflects our community’s values. 

We’re moving quickly, but we’re not cutting corners. By using a construction method that allows design and planning to happen in parallel, we can stay on schedule without sacrificing quality. We expect to close on the land next month and could see early site work this summer. Our engineers believe the plant could be online within three years—a few months ahead of Driggs’ January 1, 2029 deadline for independence. 

And yes, we’ve done our homework on costs. The $35 million estimate isn’t just a guess—it’s based on detailed engineering work, real pricing from suppliers, and includes a conservative 20% contingency. We even rounded up for good measure. On top of that, our delivery method gives us a Guaranteed Maximum Price, so we have strong cost controls in place. This is essential infrastructure, and we’re committed to doing it right and responsibly. 

This isn’t about personalities or politics—it’s about infrastructure and responsibility. Driggs has been a partner for decades, and we appreciate that relationship. But the reality is their system has struggled for years, and now both cities need solutions that work. Building our own facility isn’t a disagreement—it’s a decision to protect our water, our environment, and our future. I invite every resident to stay engaged, ask questions, and share input as we move forward. Together, we’re building something that will serve our community for generations.