Comments on: City Labels TR Records Request on Sewage Spill “Confidential”

By: whiskeyrebellion

whiskeyrebellion — Fri, 30 Sep 2016 01:32:05 +0000

In reply to Peggy. Governor Scott, is that you?

By: Thomas C. Hooker

Thomas C. Hooker — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 13:46:59 +0000

Does this mean that the City of Tallahassee is going to be fined by the State Department of Environmental Protection? Do I see a new tax or fee coming to cover another case of the usual COT ineptness?

Somebody needs a raise.

By: tothechopper

tothechopper — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 00:38:15 +0000

I love our springs, rivers, lakes and parks but the Wakulla Springs Alliance has driven up our sewer costs high enough. Before pointing fingers and demanding more, they should evaluate their own environmental impacts: according to the Wakulla Chamber of Commerce’s website, there were 10,490 occupied homes in Wakulla County as of 2010. How many are on septic and how many are on sewer?

Let’s pretend only 2,500 households and businesses in Wakulla County are still on septic. At 300 gallons per day per household (me and the wife, and our Australian shepherd average about 380 gallons each day) that’s 750,000 gallons of sewage dumped in the ground every day! At least 20 million gallons of sewage dumped by Wakulla County residents so far this month!

source: http://wakullacountychamber.com/living-in-wakulla/demographics/

https://www.lcounty.com/ww/PDF/user_category.pdf

By: Ed Smith

Ed Smith — Sat, 24 Sep 2016 12:13:52 +0000

Steve – you can circumvent the city by going to DEP. The city is required to report any spill greater than 1,000 gallons to the state warning point. You may also want to ask about the permit requirements to have backup power for lift stations. Bear in mind, the city was previously under a consent order for failing to maintain their sewer system. It may likely still be active.

Contact me if you would like more details.

By: Grady wilson

Grady wilson — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 16:55:48 +0000

It’s a crying shame that the government of the people can do as they please while us tax paying Americans pay their pay checks and we better not comply with the rules they make. The city of Valdosta has been getting by for years dumping millions of gallons of untreated sewage that’s running through creeks and rivers all the way to our gulf passing through the historic swannee river. Springs and well waterincluding mine has tested positive for ecolli without paying for testing or water we have to buy or cleaning up our wells after a flood.

By: Seeker

Seeker — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 13:28:07 +0000

I would be curious to know if the city has a written comprehensive emergency plan. To say an emergency plan/procedure is a security plan seems like a bit of a stretch.

Any wastewater spill over 1,000 gallons or “which may threaten the environment or public health are required to be immediately reported by a utility to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.”

You may want to consider asking either the DEP or the Florida Division of Emergency Management (to whom the city was required to make the notification) for any related records.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 12:22:13 +0000

The situation certainly doesn’t appear good, although the facts may take some time to extract from the city. If the backup generators weren’t tested before the storm hit (when there was plenty of time to do so), that is criminally negligent to a fair degree.
My guess from this city government: They will stonewall for the maximum time they can, but eventually yet another in a long series of lawsuits against this city will result.

By: EFF

EFF — Wed, 21 Sep 2016 05:52:11 +0000

In reply to WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot. They're not required to create documents that don't exist, so in addition to requesting maintenance logs (or service calls/requests) you may have better success requesting the timesheets for all Facilities/Maintenance employees for the last 7-10 days of August and the entire month of September. Additionally, you can request all emails (including attachments) sent and received by all Facilities/Maintenance employees for a week before and a week after the storm. Will probably raise more questions than answers, but it should at least give you a starting point.

By: Ethics Hound

Ethics Hound — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 23:39:45 +0000

I think it is important to know which city employee signed or issued your refusal response and if they referenced authorization to do so from any other city employee.
Exposure is important.
I have seen past patterns of very low level employees denying requests.

By: Peggy

Peggy — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 20:20:48 +0000

Did DOT step in & save the day? And at what point if the mayor did not want their help?