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Home - Local News Sports Obituaries Editorial Social Archives |
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Local News - April 2002 |
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ELMS faces messy problem Septic system reportedly in early stages of failure By ALICE SMITH, LTN Staff Writer April 26, 2002 - The septic system at East Lincoln Middle School is in the early stages of failure, but school officials say they haven’t experienced any problems. Steve Gilbert, director of the Lincoln County Department of Public Utilities, said that steps are being made to take care of the problem before it can become a safety hazard. Gilbert went before the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners Monday night to ask for approval to study the possibility of putting ELMS on county water and sewer lines. School superintendent Jim Watson said Thursday that East Middle is not in violation of any safety or health codes. Gilbert said he was told by Ed Hatley, associate superintendent of schools, that the area was roped off due to overloading and seepage. “It’s not affecting the inside system,” Gilbert said. Thom Seagle, maintenance director of Lincoln County Schools, said he is unaware of any seepage, and to his knowledge, the area had never been roped off. ELMS Principal Diana Healy and Assistant Principal Larry Burris also said they haven’t had problems with the system. “From the school point of view, we haven’t heard any of that,” Healy said. Gilbert said septic tanks usually go bad gradually. It slowly becomes apparent that something is wrong, he said. The system was built with the school in 1974. “Thirty years is a long time for a septic tank,” Seagle said. East Lincoln Middle, located on N.C. 73 East, has an enrollment of 665 students — an number that is increasing as the area grows. Gilbert said he was told that school facilities workers discovered the problem about a month ago. Hatley said there have been reoccurring problems with the septic system. “It either needs major work, or the school needs to be put on municipal sewage,” Hatley said. The study will not include possible designs for the new system, Gilbert said Monday, it will simply identify possibilities and provide an estimated cost. Commissioner Tom Anderson said the objective of the study is to determine the capability to get water and sewer to the school. At the time, Gilbert was concerned about funding the study. “I’m at a loss to say where the money will come from for the study,” he said. After listening to Gilbert’s presentation, the board voted unanimously to approve funding. The study, which will be done by W.K. Dixon, will cost $2,150 and will probably start within 30 days, Gilbert said. Engineers will look at a facilities map and find the nearest water and sewer facilities, he said. “We’re looking for a long-term solution,” Gilbert said. The study will also look at the possibility of providing water and sewer to areas surrounding the school. Seagle said that the drying field, located behind the school, sometimes emits an unpleasant odor after it rains. When it’s wet, he said, there is standing water, but it’s not raw sewage. “You can walk across it when it’s dry,” Seagle said. Officials are pleased with the possibility of being connected to municipal sewer and water. “If I had a choice,” Seagle said, “I’d want to be on.”
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© 2001 Lincoln Times-News |
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