Complaints are pouring in from all sides about Hamilton County Water and Wastewater Treatment Authority's private service lateral program, including concerns from Wayne Hamill, who represents Red Bank on the WWTA board, who requested options, including ending the program, be explored.
"We've got to make some decisions here shortly about which direction we want to take," said WWTA board chairman Phil Smartt, who has instructed WWTA Executive Director Cleveland Grimes to check with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation about ending the program.
County Commissioner Fred Skillern is pushing for at least a redesign of what he called "socialism in action," but the county commission does not have jurisdiction over WWTA.
TDEC initiated a sewer moratorium on Signal Mountain due to excess wastewater entering the system through outdated sewer lines in disrepair. WWTA voluntarily enacted the PSLP program in the county's unincorporated areas and the cities of East Ridge, Lakesite, Lookout Mountain, Red Bank, Ridgeside, Signal Mountain and Soddy-Daisy.
If compliance is not met, Red Bank and East Ridge face moratoriums as well and the county would incur a penalty fee.
"When you deal with TDEC and the EPA, they don't give you choices," Grimes said. "Our goal is to stay ahead of the EPA and TDEC coming in and telling us what to do. They had turned down some nine- to ten-year options [in other places with the same problem]."
WWTA's goal is to visit 300 homes per month in order to correct the infiltration problems within seven to eight years. While not all the homes will require repairs, they do require testing to prove they are in compliance.
Currently WWTA plumbers are getting to about 60 homes per month. A general contractor will likely be added to help meet WWTA's goal.
"I don't feel you need to go outside to get help," said WWTA-approved plumber and Soddy-Daisy City Commissioner Gene Shipley. "We can do the work. There's not a plumber in here who can afford to gear up ... when [work] is being piecemealed out."
He estimated he could get to an average 10 to 12 sewers a month. Others in the program could do more, he noted. Only WWTA-approved plumbers are supposed to work on sewers under WWTA's supervision.
There are 16 plumbers in the program, down from the original 27, and approximately 24,000 WWTA customers.
"It is a time of economic tough times," Shipley said. "That's why the 27 plumbers got on board. We would love to be a part of it; we need the work. Treat us like businessmen, don't treat us like children. We know how to do our job."
He said plumbers in the program are getting "80's wages, 90's wages" and are not getting paid in a timely manner, which is affecting WWTA's repair schedule. This is mostly due to loose ends with required paperwork and procedures, according to WWTA officials. Grimes noted that his staff is working evenings and weekends to finish their end of the paper trail. He also said staff is available to help plumbers with their portion.
Plumbers have also complained about required standards and potentially dangerous testing procedures.
Skillern reported he's received "more complaints in [his] tenure on [county commission] about WWTA than any other organizations we're associated with." He also said the county had to come in behind WWTA and repair Daisy Dallas and Spring Creek roads.
Commissioners and plumbers alike say if WWTA were removed from the equation, the problem would be fixed in no time.
"The homeowner should be responsible for bringing [their sewer] up to par before we take over," County Commissioner Joe Graham said. "It's a great idea but who pays for that? Hamilton County taxpayers. If your roof is broken the county is not going to pay to have it fixed. We should be inspecting lines, not putting them in."
Grimes noted that the older homes with infiltration problems are typically inhabited by elderly residents who likely couldn't afford the average $3,000 to $5,000 repairs. Skillern said there are people who can't afford the $8 fee.
County Finance Administrator and WWTA board member Louis Wright said WWTA will have no choice but to raise its rates in the future. Had a $20 to $22 monthly fee been enacted as was originally suggested, the program would have been paid for without borrowing money, he said. Due to public outcry and the resultant $8 fee, he said WWTA faces more in interest charges than the $15 million it would pay in principal on each of three 30-year loans.