CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The owner of a sewage pump station believed responsible for polluting Wilkinson Branch faces fines of up to $10,000 a day from the state Department of Environment and Conservation.
According to TDEC’s test report to the Bradley County Commission two weeks ago, the branch has a very high E. coli bacteria count that includes mostly human waste.
The unlicensed pump station serves a mobile home park near the Royal Oaks subdivision off Michigan Avenue Road. According to TDEC files, the owner, Jerry Jacobson, of Dana Point, Calif., ignored a notice of violation issued in 2004.
PDF: TDEC’S letter to the sewage pump station owner
Now he’s under orders from TDEC to repair the station and prepare to turn it over to Cleveland Utilities to operate.
Nearby resident Barbara Gilbert, who has pushed Bradley County and Tennessee in recent months to take action against the pollution, pressed county commissioners again this week.
“Why was nothing done over all these years? Who is benefiting from this negligence? Certainly not the folks living at Peachtree Pointe (the mobile home park) or anyone along Wilkinson Creek,” Ms. Gilbert said.
“With all due respect, it’s not just Wilkinson Creek that’s polluted. This is a real-life, serious situation. … There are innocent, unsuspecting people at risk, and I’m hearing far too many political accusations being made, along with intimidations and repeated untruths.”
But county officials say their hands are tied because it’s TDEC’s responsibility.
County Commissioners Ed Elkins and Lisa Stanbery agreed something should have been done long ago. But Commissioner Jeff Yarber said commissioners have spent many hours listening to concerns and explanations and trying to find a solution.
“I think we have done our job,” Mr. Yarber said.
Ms. Gilbert said after the meeting that she is getting threatening phone messages and e-mails. She said she is seeking legal advice.
Dr. Richard Urban, TDEC’s Chattanooga field office director, wrote to Mr. Jacobson on June 8, saying that only a municipality or utility service can operate a sewage station in Tennessee.
The letter referred to a May 28 telephone conversation in which Mr. Jacobson reportedly was willing to “correct the problems with the system and to have Cleveland Utilities accept the collection system and pump station as part of their collection system.”
Mr. Jacobson was required to repair the system as directed by Cleveland Utilities and to submit weekly E. coli samples from Wilkerson Branch to the Chattanooga field office. He was asked to respond in writing by July 8.
Meanwhile, beavers have dammed parts of Wilkinson Branch, pushing the polluted water into some subdivision backyards. But that is on private property, county officials say, and they cannot get at the beavers.