|
Cloverdale
eyes vandalism
to sewage system
Greencastle Banner-Graphic
- 7/31
Recent
incidents of what Cloverdale officials believe may be intentional
acts of vandalism to the sewage system have local residents, town
workers and officials, law enforcement, the Indiana Dept. of Environmental
Management (IDEM) and perhaps even national-level authorities
on the lookout for a perpetrator.
A
two-by-four may have caused damage to a liftstation near Stardust
Hills subdivision, Cloverdale Town Council President John Davis
said.
Several
days later and also in July, heavy rains lead to flooding in multiple
homes on Lincoln Street. But upon closer inspection, an orange
highway cone, reported missing days earlier by the company televising
the sewer lines since about May, was found lodged in a line in
a manhole, which caused the sewer to back up in several homes.
"Those
acts cost quite a bit," Davis said, adding that officials
from IDEM are also interested in the matter, particularly when
the town has already incurred violations for its sewer system.
Additional overflows like the one caused by the highway cone could
mean more violations. As with the two by four, "there's no
way it could've fit in there by itself.
"That
safety cone ‹ that's what really lit it up for us,"
Davis continued, and with overflowing into a creek, there could
be federal and state-level consequences if the persons responsible
are caught. "It's real isolated so no-body would ever see
you. They were quite amazed when they pulled it apart.
"We
sure would like to catch them," he added.
Cloverdale
Utility Manager Bill Gruener has done a phenomenal job with the
plant and has turned the department around, Davis stressed.
Gutting
rod used in the lines was left there by previous employees, clogging
lines and preventing proper televising. One line will even have
to be dug up.
"So
that's why our sewer system is in the shape it's in," he
said. "Stuff just can't flow down our lines.
"It gives us an incomplete picture," Davis continued.
"But it sure explains why we have a lot of overflows at certain
points."
And
while the possible vandalism is costing the town and homeowners
money and hassle, the legal ramifications could be greater if
a person is found guilty. Due to laws enacted after the terrorist
attacks in 2001, anyone tampering with a sewage and water systems
may face additional consequences, Gruener explained.
"Right
now it's up to the town to find out who's doing it and catch them,"
he said, adding that IDEM has been understanding of the town's
predicament. "It didn't just fall in the crack. Somebody
knows what they're doing.
"They're
hitting the main lines," he said, citing the town's biggest
liftstation in the Stardust Hills area.
After
consulting with the insurance company, Gruener learned that if
a perpetrator is fingered, the benefits may double or even triple.
If raw sewage touches an item, it must be disposed of. Residents
in the neighborhood that flooded from the blocked line lost washing
machines and dryers, some brand new, furnaces, clothing and more.
While
a manufacturing flaw or other problem is always possible, a foot-long
section of two-by-four was reportedly discovered when workers
were investigating the matter. Service workers were unable to
move the piece of wood.
"I
would say it had to come through the manhole," Gruener said,
noting the gates were locked and there is an alarm system for
the liftstation that services Stardust Hills and multiple businesses.
"It had to come through a manhole. That's the only liftstation
on this one whole area."
While
the Cloverdale Police Dept. will investigate future sewer system-related
acts of vandalism, Gruener said, "It's just a waiting game.
Everybody's on the lookout."
Anyone
who has any information regarding the vandalism to the Cloverdale
sewage system should contact the CPD at 795-5400 or the town hall
at 795-6033.
NOTICE: In accordance with Title
17 U.S.C., section 107, some material is provided without
permission from the copyright owner, only for purposes of
criticism, comment, scholarship and research under the "fair
use" provisions of federal copyright laws. These materials
may not be distributed further, except for "fair use,"
without permission of the copyright owner.
|