City officials to be sued by area residents

by Rob Chalifoux
Staff Writer

Members of the Westside Community Association are scheduled to file suit against Athens City officials today, alleging the city performs illegal practices.

In the suit the WCA alleges that the city dumps illegally behind the Water and Sewer Department's office, 30 Curran Drive, according to a news release from Joseph Hazelbaker, attorney for the WCA. Dumped material includes demolition debris from the Peden Stadium parking lot renovations and other nearby projects, including glass, wood, concrete and unclean fill dirt.

"My biggest concern is the dumping from sewer and waterline breaks," said Mike Worley, co-chair of the WCA. "If there is a sewer line break, then those debris are dumped over the hill."

The problem with dumping is that the hill behind the water and sewer building is in the flood plain, according to the release. It is possible that the runoff can get into the water table, according to the release.

"If it rains, and there are unclean fill or debris on the hill, then they will get washed right into the Hocking River," Worley said.

The suit states that the dumping is a violation of both city and state laws, according to the release. Although the laws make exemptions for city agencies, the WCA thinks the exception does not apply to the area in question, according to the release.

The city, however, has a different view.

that the Environmental Protection Agency has no problems with the activity occurring," said Garry Hunter, Athens City law director.

In the suit the WCA is requesting that the dumping be stopped, according to the release.

"It's kind of an ongoing issue," Worley said. "It's unfortunate that it had to culminate with this."