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More on Chaffee's waterMonday, September 8, 2008
I just finished a story for tomorrow’s paper — it may already be on our Website — about the latest in Chaffee’s water saga. I called Mark Perkins — -you may remember his stirring speech at last week’s city council meeting where he lambasted city officials for not working together and reminded everyone that waterborne illnesses can kill. We spoke briefly tonight. Perkins, father of two and married to Michelle Perkins, is on the school board. He said bad water isn’t the only issue in Chaffee and though he’s not happy with the mayor or council, he also said these problems didn’t begin with their tenure but from 15 or 20 years of infrastructure neglect. What needs to happen, he said, is for city officials to find a way to work together (no more “if you won’t vote for the person I nominated, I won’t vote for yours,” he said.) to fix the problems. But Perkins has also taken what action he could, contacting officials at the DNR, EPA and state attorney general’s office to see what can be done. He’s thinking about calling Homeland Security, he said, after hearing councilman Ron Moyers say he’d made unauthorized visits to the city’s water plant — which Perkins pointed out is a felony. Perkins has been hearing back from government officials. He forwarded the following emails to me after I asked for copies to post online: -----Original Message----- From: Hernandez-Santiago.Neftali@epamail.epa.gov [mailto:Hernandez-Santiago.Neftali@epamail.epa.gov] Sent: Fri 9/5/2008 4:03 PM To: Mark Perkins Cc: Tucker.Stacie@epamail.epa.gov Subject: Fw: Chaffee, MO — Complaint Mark, It seems MDNR will inspect the facility the facility within the next two weeks. I will send you more information when available. Thanks, Neftali Hernandez-Santiago, US Environmental Protection Agency Water, Wetlands, & Pesticides Division Drinking Water Management Branch 901 N. 5th Street Kansas City, KS 66101 Office (913) 551 — 7036 Fax (913) 551 — 9036 ----- Forwarded by Neftali Hernandez-Santiago/R7/USEPA/US on 09/05/2008 03:42 PM ----- “Jack D Baker” r.mo.gov> To: Neftali Hernandez-Santiago/R7/USEPA/US@EP PMA 09/05/2008 03:14cc Subject: Fw: Chaffee, MO — Complaint The boil water order was issued by this office due to the lack of chlorine in the system. This was found during a visit by a DNR employee to investigate a complaint. We have little to work with to compel the city to do most of these items as they are not health threatening. The biggest immediate problem is their lack of a certified operator. They have “borrowed” an operator from a nearby town and plan to use him until they can get a certified operator. The city’s usual reply to our recommendations is that they have no money. We will be doing another operation and maintenance inspection of this facility within the next two weeks. ----- Forwarded by Jack D Baker/SERO/FSD/MODNR on 09/05/2008 03:04 PM----- Gary Gaines/SERO/FSD/MODNR 09/03/2008 08:32 AM To: Jack D Baker/SERO/FSD/MODNR@MODNR cc: Steve Sturgess/PDWP/DEQ/MODNR@MODNR Subject: Fw: Chaffee, MO — Complaint Jack, would you please respond to Neftali. I know you and Mike Tate have been very involved in the issue and have kept me updated, but I don’t know the latest. Thanks. Gary. Gary L. Gaines, P.E., Director Southeast Regional Office 2155 N. Westwood Blvd. Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 Phone: 573-840-9702 Fax: 573-840-9754 E-mail: gary.gaines@dnr.mo.gov. ----- Forwarded by Gary Gaines/SERO/FSD/MODNR on 09/03/2008 08:29 AM----- Hernandez-Santiago.Neftali@epamail.epa.gov To “Steve Sturgess” cc: “Linda McCarty” Subject: Chaffee, MO — Complaint 09/02/2008 10:59 AM Steve, Gary We received a complaint from a customer of this drinking water system. He would like to know what the authorities are doing to obligate the system to correct these issues (including low chlorine evels in the water and the current boil water order). Could you please tell me about the issues at the Chaffee, MO PWS? Have the system corrected the findings listed on the attached report? Is the system cooperating? (See attached file: Chaffee.pdf) Thank you, Neftali Hernandez-Santiago, US Environmental Protection Agency Water, Wetlands, & Pesticides Division Drinking Water Management Branch 901 N. 5th Street Kansas City, KS 66101 Office (913) 551 — 7036 Fax (913) 551 — 9036 (See attached file: Chaffee.pdf)
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South Hanover Street (November 22, 2008) Cape County Commission action (November 20, 2008) Not quite on holiday (November 19, 2008) What number were you at the polls? (November 4, 2008) I endorse... (November 3, 2008) Hop to it! (November 2, 2008) Wrapping it up (October 30, 2008) In the media pack (October 30, 2008) Watching the detectives, uh, the media (October 30, 2008) Why bother voting? (October 28, 2008) Good riddance to a big mortgage (October 27, 2008) Cape County + budget. An update from the meeting (October 26, 2008) Prop B: home health workers (October 23, 2008) State issues safe drinking water report (October 21, 2008) Lost and found (October 20, 2008) Morley Swingle visits League of Women Voters (October 9, 2008) Fire call (October 9, 2008) Rick Springfield + Sahara (October 4, 2008) advertisement
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Mark Perkins.....hmm.....Chaffees hero crusader. The man who hates Chaffee water, and accuses the city leaders of ill-doing. Who is this guy anyway? has he even lived in Chaffee the 15-20 years he's saying that the city government and infastructure has been screwed up? I heard he came from Morley OH WAIT....isnt Mark Perkins the guy that the Chaffee Fire Department caught filling his own swimming pool last year from a city fire hydrant. In case anyone didnt know(including mark), that is stealing. Not to mention the fact that god-forbid a fire would have broken out near there, the FD wouldnt have the water pressure it needed to fight the fire, b/c Mark had a hydrant ILLEAGALLY OPEN. Talk about tampering with a citys water source. I bet noone called Homeland Security when Mark endangered the men,women, and children of his neighborhood....itsnt there an Elementary school near his house? Anyway....sorry Mark, but the old "My father-in-law has been doing it for years" thing, just didnt make ok. By the way...did the father in law ever pay for his pool to be filled...oh well. I understand the FD does this as a service to people, but they ARE CHARGED on their monthly water bill for the water used. They also do this on their own days off, etc, UNPAID. Mark says the water has been bad for years.....I guess just how bad must depend on if he is getting it free or not. Tsk,Tsk,Tsk, Mark Perkins...sounds like he's just bucking to get his name out there for an open council seat someday.
Well it's been 48 hours,are we still boiling or what?
I did not know mr hicks personally but he is gone so everyone needs to get past that and lets move forward. Alot of you keep stating that us as citizens need to do something. I definitely agree but when it comes to the water I am not sure what us as citizens can do unless we all put our money together to replace everything. I am willing to help in anyway that I can. I am willing to help hold meetings if anyone is interested in getting a committee together, but as stated before can someone shed some light on what more we can do. It sounds as if higher govt has been notified of this problem already maybe things will start rolling a bit faster now.
I heard today that we may be under a boil water order for six months. Hope that's not true. What's the word Peg?
By and large we have to believe that the leaders of our small town want it to succeed. That is not to say that in the past people have ran or been elected to offices, committies, or political boards with their own agendas as motivation. Chaffee, along with every town in our great contry, has and will contiune to experience successes and failures. That being said, the leaders and residents alike must behave and make the difficult choices that continue to make chaffee a good place to live.Publically airing your dirty laundry will only divide this town. Instead, this should be one of those defining moments when everyone comes together and works toward an acceptable solution for the community.
I agree with Mark Perkins. The bottom line is what is being done to fix the problem? This didn't start overnight and unfortunately it obviously won't be fixed that quickly. When will we have CLEAN water that we are not afraid to use??? That is what I want to know! Why are some buisnesses open and operating??? They are basically disregarding the boil water order and telling folks drink at your own risk! I saw some kids with sodas in town this afternoon and it made me boil even hotter!! If just 10% of this town got sick and 1% died or was permanently disabled how could you live with yourself? Who would want to move here? What buisiness would be foolish enough to open here knowing the city council and water situation? Is there light at the end of this tunnel? I have read a lot of comments about Ron Moyers-I'm not commenting on his history because one foul act does not necessarily mean he has made others but a pattern of behavior compiled with an attitude that he is better than everyone else in this town and "above the law" is some convincing circumstantial evidence. This is all SO ridiculous! The comments I have seen are crazy. I don't think he sabatoged the water or would do so by any means but if he stepped foot into a place he was not authorized to go then he should suffer the consequences as would anyone else. If it was part of his job as councilman or being on the "water board" then fine, however you can't sit on the fence and say he went in because it is his "duty" as a council member to investigate an area that is VITAL to our community but then at the same time not hold his feet to the fire for NOT DOING ANYTHING about what he saw! Ignorance of the law is NO excuse! There is a freaking HUGE sign on the door- we know he can READ! Why was the condition of the building not corrected immediately, and why was the integrity/security of water treatment placed on TOP priority above banning fireworks and telling people to register their dogs! I saw the March report as well and while several have pounded Eric Hicks for the situation of the water treatment plant, maybe you failed to notice that the report was addressed to the HONORABLE MAYOR MOHORC! Which personally I find to be a questionable statement but that is just me. The FACT is she knew it or should have known the situation at that time. She owes this community and its citizens a duty to follow up personally, to get to the bottom of this situation and if others do not keep her aprised (such as the water board or Mr. Hicks)then it is her duty as the mayor to educate herself on the matter. That is the job of the mayor, not to wait for someone to report to you what you want to hear. Mudbegone has made some very good points...great thinking! Smartblonde has caused me to question if all blondes are stupid again, sounds like she gets it. Wouldn't it be great if babyJo printed some of these comments and true suggestions for improving this city for Momma. I would have a heart attack if she actually implemented or at least ackowleged them at the next meeting or in next Sundays tongue lashing?? Come on guys....lets pull this thing together! To little Ms Mayor and the council... you all can play nice or you can't play at all! Grow up, swallow your pride, turn the other cheek and lets get this problem solved. This is our city and we are taking it back-we have to! I think you will hear this message repeated at the next election. Somebody please tell me if I'm wrong (and I'm sure you will) but aren't 4 seats up for re-election in April?
Tom Cunningham, Ronnie Moyers, Debbie Eichhorn and Jason Frasier. Lets pull it together and lets move on!
Chaffee isn't the only city with water problems. As of last night Marble Hill's water and sewer rates just increased with no real plan to fix the infrastructures:
http://aldermanlacy.wordpress.com/...
The city has no money hhhhmmm how much does the city pay our city attourney, seems like he's there for every word they speek, and why is it that he has to be at every city meeting other towns do not have theirs at thier meetings,and ussually they will not answer you at the meetings unless they lean over and ask what to say from him first.I'd like to see his monthly bill for the city, they never read that out at the meetings, they read all the other bills except that one?
Chaffee might as well unincorporate and form neighborhood alliances to drill water wells and replace lines.
Mud be gone -you made some great points
It seems everyone has their own agenda and because of that Chaffee is going downhill. We need to work together, we may not all agree on everything, but we should all want the best for Chaffee. It can be a great community again.
It isn't a good idea to petition Hicks back, water was bad during the time he held his position. I am sure I am not the only one who noticed the lack of chlorine smell in water and was told the treatments were different, then we had the foul odor many complained about.
We need to drop the Big Duck/Little Pond attitude of many.
Maybe with the proper training and a genuine desire to do what is best for the citizens of Chaffee we can move ahead.
I am one person who is willing to do what is needed to help make Chaffee the "City With a Smile again".
I think what Perkins did was GREAT! Obviosly it has got the ball rolling. But it is kinda like the pot calling the kettle black, he was in some hot water not so long ago. hahahahah. But anywho, I.m glad these agencies are involved, maybe they will help the city get this straightened out.
I bet Moyers is hoping all Mark does is THINK huh?Calling Homeland Security sounds like scary stuff to me!
WOW !!! Thank you Peg for bringing such an important issue to the readers! Great job Mark! A couple of posts here have suggested that we need to stop complaining and bring some solutions to the table - well here goes :
1. The council needs to swallow their pride and work together to solve this current crisis.
2. The council needs to make whatever sacrifices necessary to demonstrate the leadership that they promised at election time, up to and including resignation if they have become part of the problem and not part of the solution! ".. resigned because of stress and harassment by certain council members."
3. The city needs to petition Eric Hicks to return to work as soon as possible, as the record denotes we did not have these problems before his resignation.
4. The city needs to hire the help needed for the police and public works departments. Period!
5. The current procedure of "letting citizens blow off some steam"and then proceed with business as usual has to stop!
6. The citizens of Chaffee need to recognize that it will take time, money and a huge amount of effort to resolve some of the current problems, such as identifying and replacing sections of the water distribution system, perhaps some volunteers for a citizen committee to report to the council.
7. The city needs a website to effect a means of communication that begins to reflect that the 21st century is really here! Not only to get out a "boil-water alert" but to show our best to potential new businesses and residents. Even a little good news like the sports results and new baby announcements!
8. Finally, the city employees need an effective and sensible way to communicate their needs, concerns and suggestions without fear of reprisals. Perhaps the citizens could use the same method as their voice when not able to attend a council meeting. Possibly a Blog on the city website!?
Well there's a start - now blast away as usual or be constructive and add some suggestions of your own! Let the "Mud-Be-Gone"