Springfield, Parker claim neutrality in AWT conflict

SPRINGFIELD — Both Parker and Springfield want to remain neutral in the Cherry Street lift station dispute until some type of mutual decision is reached between Bay County and Callaway.

“I don’t think what we say at this point is going to make a difference,” Springfield City Clerk Lee Penton said. “As far as I’ve heard, the county has already made a decision. We’ll listen to anything; we’re not on either side. We’re not going to step into the fight.”

Parker Mayor Rich Musgrave had a similar point.

“We’re interested bystanders,” he said. “We’re in the stands. The issue is clearly between Callaway and the county.”

What both municipalities want is to hear from both engineers, Webster Environmental Associates hired by Callaway and Carollo Engineering hired by the county, concurrently in a public meeting. That might happen if a compromise cannot be reached between Callaway and Bay County staff as part of a conflict resolution process. A public meeting would be the next step.

“Their engineers can’t make a decision,” Springfield Mayor Ralph Hammond said. “How do they expect normal people to reach a decision? The normal day-to-day person has no idea about sewage flow.”

Callaway has asked repeatedly for meetings, first requesting the county call the AWT meeting and then calling it themselves for this past Tuesday. Bay County and Carollo Engineering did not attend the meeting.

While both Musgrave and Hammond stressed their respective cities are not taking sides, the understanding of the issue diverges: Springfield going more with the county and Parker more with Callaway.

“From what I have been told, what has been shown to me now, Callaway seems to have the stronger case,” Musgrave said. “I don’t know what is the most equitable outcome. It would seem inequitable that other partners would have to pay for something that is one city’s responsibility.”

Musgrave said he had heard conflicting legal opinions about whether all the AWT partners would be responsible for repairs to the station if Callaway’s case was proven right.

Penton pointed out Springfield has an AWT lift station and how they might handle a similar situation.

“Something happens to ours it would be our fault,” he said. “It’s our crap that flows into our station.”

Penton said it made more sense to treat the problem where it is created, which is further up in Callaway’s pipes. Both Webster and Carollo agree hydrogen sulfide, the gas that caused corrosion at the station, is created because of low flow in Callaway’s system.

“They built out for growth; they built to have more capacity than it was getting,” Penton said referring to a failed Allanton development.

Both Penton and Musgrave said their cities have never had any issues with their AWT lift stations.