Business owner to redo request for sewer tap-in

County officials have filed charges against the property owner.
By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- A Hubbard Township businessman hoping to tie into the city sewer system is going to have to do a little more work before that permit can be granted.
Several months ago, Curtis Crump, owner of Average Joe Truck Rodeo, 2601 Elmwood Drive Ext., requested a residential sewer tap from the city. That request was denied, and Crump changed his request for the tap-in from residential to commercial.
City and county officials met Tuesday to discuss the new request.
Members of council said that because Crump has changed his request from residential to commercial, he must follow a different procedure. Council said Crump must have professional plans drawn up detailing what the property will be used for and offer specifics on the potential tap-in and what will be going into it.
Any plans concerning the tap-in request will have to be reviewed and approved by the state Environmental Protection Agency and county and city officials before a permit can be granted.
Councilman William Williams said those plans should give council a better indication of what will be entering the city's sewage system if the request is granted.
Deciding factor
Councilman Patton Gilliland said the deciding factor for council will be how the city's sewage treatment facility will be affected.
"I don't want to see anything hitting our system that will cause problems. The EPA will really have to fine-tune this before I accept it," he said.
Crump said he will begin drawing up plans to submit to state, county and city officials immediately.
Crump has said obtaining some type of sewer tap-in permit is necessary to continue operating his business. He said not getting the permit would mean he would be forced to purchase a commercial septic system that could cost thousands of dollars.
On-site system unlikely
Frank Migliozzi of the Trumbull County Board of Health said an injunction would be sought to stop Crump's business if he does not receive the sewer tap-in permit, because Crump's chances of receiving a permit for a septic system on the site are slim. He said the amount of land already disturbed on the property would likely cause any on-site sewage system to fail.
"I really don't see any means by which Mr. Crump can seek to have an on-site sewage treatment system installed," he said.
Migliozzi said the board has filed four misdemeanor criminal charges against Crump in Girard Municipal Court: Installing a septic tank without permit or inspection, installing plumbing work without plumbing permits, drilling a well without proper permits and mixing clean fill materials with demolition debris.
Migliozzi said the county is considering a fifth charge of improperly handling waste material from mobile septic systems on the property.
Migliozzi said that two of the five charges would be rectified if Crump is granted the sewer tap-in.
jgoodwin@vindy.com