Updated 3-13-20 9:07 p.m.
DODGE CITY, Ala. – The Dodge City Town Council learned more details about the cleanup of the oil contamination in the town’s unique natural sewage treatment plant at its March meeting Thursday evening.
Living Water Services General Manager Grady Parsons, whose company is handling the cleanup, said water samples have recently been taken again, and he is awaiting test results.
In the meantime, he said, the score from the annual report the Town must submit to Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) was 7.
“The lower the score, the better,” said Parsons. “Everyone has some points because the age of the system. I think 7 is the lowest in Alabama.”
He also noted in every other category on the report, the town had zeroes, with the only points (the 7) being in the age of the system.
Dodge City Mayor Tawana Canada asked Parsons to give the council a more in-depth look of the oil contamination. Parsons said the oil was first seen in a routine inspection of the plant, with the first notification of contamination given to Canada Dec. 20, 2019. Parsons said upon further investigation into the source of the oil, it looked to come from the vicinity of the truck stop located in the town, and it was a large amount.
Said Parsons, “That large quantity appears to be from some type of a transport tanker of some kind. If it was a 55-gallon drum, it probably would’ve come and gone and we never would’ve seen it. We had a rather large quantity of oil come through. That sort of thing can’t happen.”
At the council’s last meeting, the contamination was reported to be in a “treatment lagoon” that is part of the town’s unique natural sewage treatment plant. Canada said up to 2,000 gallons of oil were released into the system by an unknown person or persons.
Dodge City’s “green” sewage treatment plant has a system of “S” shaped ponds that filter out bacteria with cat tails and duck weed. The water is also treated with UV light to remove any remaining bacteria.
Parsons was happy with the council’s quick response to the issue, saying, “We feel really good about the course of action you’ve taken.”
Town Attorney Hugh Harris suggested the council make an official report with the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office to further investigate and attempt to identify the person or persons responsible for the contamination.
Canada previously stated, “It is safe. Living Water Services caught the problem almost immediately. It’s contained to one cell and it’s being treated so that the oil is absorbed out of the water before it’s released into the other cells.”
In other business, the council voted to take $50,000 from the Town’s general fund to pay toward its loan for the CR 216 Bridge Culvert Replacement Project, leaving the loan balance at approximately $50,000.
The council then discussed the annual audit required by the State and voted to accept it.
Canada said of the audit, “It came back good.”
Town Clerk Vicki Ogletree shared, “It’s basically what went in and what went out, as far as the Town’s expenses and income are concerned. It’s our annual audit required by State of Alabama.”
The council voted to rename four county roads located within the town limits after important persons in the town’s history.
County Road 262 is now Myrtis Shelton Drive, County Road 263 is now Jay V. Shelton Drive, County Road 240 is now Bobby McDonald Drive and County Road 260 is now Luther White Road. Canada noted the new roads will still keep the original county road numbers with the names.
“Luther White owned the first store in Dodge City,” said the mayor. “Bobby McDonald was the town’s first fire chief. Jay V. and Myrtis Shelton helped make Dodge City by going around and petitioning to make the town.”
The council also voted to accept the bid on tree services (primarily tree removal in Perry Ray Park) of four trees from local company Marshall Tree Service for $1,400.
The council voted to close Howard Circle, the road in front of Dodge City Town Hall, June 13, 2020 from 5 a.m. until 7 p.m. for Dodge City Day and the town’s Census Days event, which will also be taking place.
The next regularly scheduled Dodge City Town Council meeting will be April 9, 2020 at 6 p.m. at Dodge City Town Hall.
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