BentonCountyIssues.net
Parsons, TN - On Thursday, December 16, 2004, Danny Graves the Chairman of the Sewer Committee Meeting took some responsibility for not having any meetings Camden due to the cost of the attorney and accountant who attend the meetings. He said they didn't want to pay for their traveling time to Camden. We suggested that since Benton County Citizens were being restricted from attending the meetings due to the time of the meetings as well as the travel that meetings should be held in Benton County as well. Since Benton County is paying for ½ of the bill for the attorney.
A copy of ordinance was given to Vivian Mahan after the meeting.
Blue Sky Timber owns the 19 acres that the lagoon for the sewer will be built on. To date, no formal offer to purchase any of the necessary property has been made to any of the owners of any of the property needed for this venture .It was stated that the property owners that will be effected will be notified after their property is appraised.
Much of the cost of setting this up was absorbed by Mr. Graves, or his 10 companies, according to Mr. Graves, none of his businesses will connect to the exit, but they will benefit from the businesses who will now and in the future hook onto the sewer line. Mr. Graves stated that he has spent "out-of-pocket" $50.000.00 to $100.000.00 of his own money. Resources stated that the majority of Mr. Graves time and money was spent lobbying Nashville. Mr. Graves stated that travel at $1500 per hour to travel to Nashville on his private jet contributed to the excessive costs. And that and he has put in many sleepless nights and worked many hours on this project.
He also at the beginning of the meeting stated that Concerned Citizen's groups don't know what they are talking about. (I think this group of 8 may have impressed some of those attending, but then this is a biased opinion.) And this group has caused them some problems with the letter writing that some of the members did to their elected officials.
The spokesman for the Engineering Firm said the costs could now be $2,500,000, possible $3,000.000 and not the $1,700,000. That originally was the cost of the project.
Randy Nelson the Grant Administrator was there.
Mr. Graves also stated that the TBI and FBI had questioned him in his office, and that apparently they were satisfied with the answers they received.
While Mr. Graves was very gracious and answered any and all questions asked by those attending, County Mayor Jimmy Thornton took the opportunity to stand and yell "This citizens group did not care about the sewer at all and only wanted to stop it". Mayor Thornton went on by saying that " They only care that I own land over there and will make some money" Jimmy Thornton stated that "I don't own the land there my son bought some land and it got put in my name by mistake".
Mr. Graves was informed at that time that the "citizens group" did not care at all what land Jimmy Thornton owned, all they cared about was the cost of the project, the possibility of a tax increase, the safety of the citizens and the environment.
The Mayor from Decatur County (Broadway) Rose after Mayor Thornton took his seat and professed the innocents of Jimmy Thornton and the other 2 Benton County Commissioners whom sit on the board of the sewer district, Mr. Patton and Mr. Pafford. Mr. Broadway stated that he was aware of the "character assassinations put on the people in the room and that they were fine upstanding people."
Apparently Mayor Broadway has never attended a County Commission meeting in Benton County to see these three in action. Mayor Broadway stated that he had received letters from citizens in Benton County asking for information but he had no intention of answering those letters, while this was stated, Jimmy Thornton can be seen on the video of the meeting looking over to the attending citizens and making childish grinning faces in support of Mr. Broadway's statements. Mr. Broadway stated that "Citizens groups are all ½ cocked, uninformed, and don't understand the law".
Neither Broadway nor Thornton asked to be recognized to speak by the Chairman of the meeting; both just rose and began to berate the audience. Mrs. Benton of Big Sandy asked early in the meeting of Mr. Graves if questions would be taken later in the meeting. He responded that he would at any time answer all questions and that all we had to do was raise our hand to be recognized. The meeting went well, with the Citizen's Group coming away after being able to make statements and having questions answered.
General Notes:
1. TVA owns some of the property the sewer lines will go through on the final leg of the discharge line. Crossing protected environmental land and waters.
2. TVA has approved the Permit.
3. The pollution in Eagle Creek is a big issue that the sewer system should resolve.
4. One geological survey done, no results stated.
5. The Policies and Procedures for the Sewer District were approved and points out that 19 acres owned by Blue Sky Timber Co. is where the lagoon (s) will be located and buffer area, on east side of rest area on the south side of I-40.
6. Federal process for land acquisition will start soon. If this is not successful, each county can use eminent domain.
7. TDOT will hook onto the sewer.
Looking at the Sewer Use Ordinance for the sewer district, dated October 2004, some points of interest.
This does have some requirements for new structures (not quite a building code) :
1. Sewer connection required: Every building having plumbing fixtures installed and intended for human habitation, occupancy or use on a street alley or easement where there is a sanitary sewer within 500 ft of the building drain shall be considered as served by the sewer system.
All new buildings hereafter constructed on property served by the sewer shall not be occupied until connection has been made. The owner shall cease to use any other method of disposal of sewage. Septic tanks shall not be used where sewers are available.
2. A dwelling shall have at least one commode, on bathtub or shower, one lavatory, on kitchen type sink and an adequate source of hot water for each family unit to meet minimum requirements for health, sanitation, and personal hygiene.
3. The District Manager, building inspector, or their representative shall have free access to any part of the premises where house drains connect with or draining into the sewer are laid for the purpose of examining construction, condition and method of use. Right to enter and inspect connection.
4. Requires a minimum 4-inch pipe from sewer main or trunk to the property served.
5. Four-inch building sewers shall be laid on a grade greater than 1/8in per foot (at least 1%). Larger building sewers shall be laid on a grade that will produce a velocity when flowing full of at least 2 feet per second.
6. Building materials specified, only approved building materials. No cement mortar joints accepted. Check valves; back flow prevention devices also required.
7. Cleanouts shall be installed to specifications.
Rules on locations of sewer stub outs, taps on sewer lines, manhole requirements, and maintenance of service lines. Methods of excavating, placing of pipe, jointing, testing, backfilling the trench, referencing specifications of the Standard Plumbing Code and Water Pollution Control Federation manuals.
Mr. Graves was the only one that conceded that tax money may have to be used for this project to be completed. Mayor Thornton is on record saying that at no time will tax money be used although the resolution to fund the sewer states that the mayor can raise taxes at will to meet the needs of the sewer system building and operational costs.
Article by J. Kyle.
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