County suspends receiving septic waste at wastewater plant

The county will temporarily suspend receiving septic waste at its Industrial Air Park wastewater treatment plant, commissioners agreed Tuesday morning at their regular meeting.

Stacy Watkins, the consulting engineer for the upgrades currently under way at the plant, wrote a letter to the Decatur County Board of Commissioners. In that letter, he recommended that the plant is not in a suitable condition to receive “any additional sludge material other than that of traditional industrial park customers.”

Watkins further wrote that he visited the plant Dec. 22, 2011, and witnessed several septic/grease-pumping trucks depositing their waste.

“The addition of this highly concentrated sludge into the treatment works has caused excessive build-up of sludge throughout the plant,” he said.

Watkins recommended that the county temporarily suspend the acceptance of outside septic waste until the upgrades have been installed and are operational.

“Continuing to accept septic/grease waste while the plant is not working properly will only cause increased cost to the county for additional sludge removal and possible further damage to the system,” he wrote.

Commission David C. “Butch” Mosely asked what the alternative solution was for citizens and companies who were used to using the plant.

“What we are saying is that we’ll take your tax money, but we won’t take your waste,” he said. “What do they have to fall back on?

“I just think if we had taken care of this problem in a more timely manner, we wouldn’t be in this position right now.”

Mosely was the only commissioner to vote against the temporary suspension. Chairman Dr. C.T. Stafford, Vice Chairman Russell Smith, and Commissioners Dr. Earl Perry, Frank Loeffler and Oliver Sellers all voted in favor.

In other business, the county:

• Approved reception of approximately $60,000 in grants to the Decatur County Sheriff’s Office, to help crime victims.

• Set qualifying fees for elected county offices at 3 percent of the annual salary.

• Approved renting a rotary press from Fournier Industries of Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada, at $10,000 for the initial week and $2,000 for each week following. The press is necessary for the wastewater plant project.

• Appointed Jerry Long to the Industrial Development Authority board and re-appointed Erica Mills to the DFACS board.

SportsPlus

Community

Decatur County Schools accepting donations for hurricane victims

Community

Firehouse Art Gallery preparing for second Bob Ross ® painting workshop

News

Simmons House to become all-inclusive wedding venue

News

Local citizens hold town hall meeting in Donalsonville to discuss primate facility

News

Memorial Hospital discusses Foundation Gala at monthly meeting

News

Decatur County spared from majority of Hurricane Helene, minimal damage or power outages reported

News

Librarians tour new Hutto STEM Center

News

Roslyn Palmer addresses Rotary Club about upcoming Historic Tours

News

Board of Education recognizes Teachers of the Year

News

Hope Farms offers their facility as an emergency center for the hurricane

News

Local law enforcement receive update on Hurricane Helene, expected to be severe hurricane

News

Kemp declares state of emergency as Helene approaches

News

Tropical Storm Helene expected to become Category 3 hurricane

News

J. Christine and Linens & Pearls cut ribbon on joint location

News

GCA recognizes seniors at Friday Senior Night game

News

Georgia Power monitoring, prepared to respond to statewide severe weather this week

News

Outfitters warn Georgia lawmakers to tread carefully on fishing rights

News

Bainbridge and Cairo Set for High-Stakes Showdown Amid Hurricane Threat

News

Bainbridge City Council approves revolving loan fund resolution, recognizes Winburn retirement

News

Tropical system could develop into Hurricane Helene by Wednesday

News

Georgia sets tourism records for second straight year

News

Rotary Club learns about upcoming Walk to End Alzheimer’s

Community

CASA holds annual $10,000 reverse raffle fundraiser

News

Southwest Georgia Farm Credit Announces Promotion of Keri Reynolds