As many plumbers complete paperwork needed to participate in a Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority sewer line repair and replacement program, a threatened lawsuit could derail the plan, the authority's attorney said.
"That would end the program," attorney Mike Carter said.
But John Bartlett of Neighborhood Plumbing said he will sue for discrimination.
"We're being denied the right to work," he said. "This is discriminatory against small plumbers."
Mr. Bartlett said he has spoken to several attorneys about suing the authority. He has been openly critical of the authority's program, which requires plumbers to obtain about $60,000 in performance bonds, do background checks on employees who do program work and set specific prices for plumbers' work.
About 24,000 gravity sewer customers pay $8 per month to fund the program, the goal of which is to repair and replace pipes that run from the home to the road. An order from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation requires the county to get rainwater, which can get in through cracked pipes, out of the sewer system.
Mr. Bartlett questioned whether the authority can set standard prices, and he has said it is impossible to obtain the bonding needed and that the program has cost him quite a bit of money. He also asked why plumbers don't receive county benefits, since they now are considered "professionals" under the county purchasing rules.
Mr. Carter said he has "never heard a logical explanation for (Mr. Bartlett's) theory of litigation."
Monday is the deadline for plumbers to hand in their paperwork to be part of the program. Authority Executive Director Cleveland Grimes said about 25 plumbers have met with him to help finish up their forms.
He said most of the plumbers he has worked with are with smaller companies.
"We've got small plumbers that are actually starting their business with this program," he said.
WHAT'S NEXT
Plumbers must turn in paperwork by Monday to be eligible to work in the Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority's repair and replacement program.
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