Justices to gather data on sewers

FAYETTEVILLE — A community sewer system operator plans to teach justices of the peace about the systems — information they can use when considering whether to alter oversight of those systems.

Justice of the Peace Robert Dennis, a Republican representing Farmington, asked Tom and Kathy Bartlett to speak about community sewer systems, also called private sewer systems, during the county services meeting Monday.

“Education is extremely powerful,” Kathy Bartlett said.

Among about nine

operating community sewer systems in Washington County or its cities, the Bartletts operate seven, Kathy Bartlett said. The Bartletts operate three private sewer systems solely the county’s jurisdiction, she said.

Discussions about community sewer systems among county officials has continued since the Quorum Court passed an ordinance last year mandating the county oversee the systems. The $2 per home fee structure in the ordinance may need revision, officials said.

Environmental Affairs and Recycling director Michelle Viney, who oversees the systems, wasn’t at the meeting Monday. Dennis said she had been invited and agreed to come.

Justice of the Peace Bill Ussery, a Republican representing northeastern Springdale, said he wanted to hear from the Bartletts, but Viney or other county staff with expertise should be present. Viney recently attended a class on the systems, Ussery said.

The Bartletts have been critical of the community sewer systems ordinance. The pair spoke in Goshen last year and convinced aldermen to opt out of an inter-local agreement to give the county oversight in the city.

The county discovered earlier this year the Bartletts also were the only operators paying the fee as of February.

On Monday, committee members removed the Bartletts from the agenda, gave them 3½ minutes to speak during a public comment period, then voted 2-2 to allow the full presentation. Dennis broke the tie vote, but by then, two committee members had left the meeting. Another left shortly after Dennis voted for the presentation to proceed.

The presentation is purely educational and something justices of the peace need to make sound decisions, Dennis said. Kathy Bartlett, however, decided to reschedule the presentation so more justices of the peace could attend, she said.