PORT ANGELES — The campaign to build a secondary sewage treatment plant in Victoria is a worthy cause that deserves support, Mayor Richard Headrick said Tuesday after hearing “Mr. Floatie” address the City Council about the issue.
“I believe in their cause,” Headrick said.
“It’s kind of ironic that Victoria is a bigger city but it doesn’t have secondary sewage treatment or even primary sewage treatment.”
“Mr. Floatie,” mascot of People Opposed to Outfall Pollution, attended Tuesday’s council meeting to invite Port Angeles officials to the first Victoria Toilet Regatta on July 23.
The unusual mascot and regatta are intended to draw attention to Victoria’s need for a secondary sewage treatment plant, said James “Mr. Floatie” Skwarok, coordinator for People Opposed to Outfall Pollution.
Skwarok also portrayed the unusual mascot.
Headrick said he doesn’t know what Victoria residents are doing about the situation except maybe not complaining enough.
Mayor declines invite
At least the Port Angeles City Council can give secondary sewage treatment plant advocates an audience and maybe Victoria will listen, he said.
“I wish them luck, but I’m not going to be in their race,” Headrick said.
“Mr. Floatie” will run as a single-issue candidate to draw attention to Victoria’s need for a secondary sewage treatment system, not just a plant, Skwarok said.
“Our goal is to bring secondary sewage treatment to Victoria by 2010 in time for the Winter Olympics,” he said.
“Because we want to win a gold medal, not a brown medal.”
British Columbia and the city of Vancouver will host the 2010 Winter Olympics on Feb. 12-28.