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October 4, 2005Septage plant 'debacle' questionedSupervisor wants all info in probe releasedByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - Acme Township's supervisor has called for independent counsel to replace Michael Houlihan in the probe of why a wall at the county's new septage plant collapsed. Supervisor Bill Kurtz, a critic of the investigation, called the septage facility a "debacle." He said Houlihan, attorney for the Grand Traverse County Department of Public Works, is too close to the project and facility designer Gourdie-Fraser Inc. Kurtz said he will ask his township board at its meeting tonight to support his request before he takes it to the county. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. Houlihan denied his objectivity has been compromised. "If I didn't feel capable in every respect, I wouldn't be doing it," he said. Houlihan's decision early last week to make public only the final investigation report rather than all information uncovered was the final act that caused Kurtz to call for his ouster. "Withholding that information is unconscionable," said Kurtz, appointed to a subcommittee in August to oversee the probe "We haven't had a meeting," he said. Supervisors from Acme, Garfield, Elmwood, East Bay and Peninsula townships make up the county water and sewer committee and are financially responsible for the septage treatment plant and Grand Traverse County Department of Public Works. "It didn't take me long after sitting on that board to see who really runs the water and sewer committee," Kurtz said, referring to Houlihan, who has represented the DPW since 1977. Peninsula Township supervisor Rob Manigold said Kurtz has been skeptical from the beginning, but Houlihan still has his support. "Mike (Houlihan) has been the attorney for the DPW and that's his life's deal and I have faith in Mike," Manigold said. Houlihan has headed up the eight-year effort to build the septage plant. He is paid $150 an hour for his time. For 2004 and the first eight months of this year, Houlihan has billed the DPW $148,456 for his work on the septage treatment plant. Houlihan was part of the septage facility committee that recommended hiring Gourdie-Fraser to create the initial design. In its contract proposal, Gourdie-Fraser boasted of the septage facility as the "brainchild" of its 40-year relationship with Grand Traverse County's DPW. Gourdie-Fraser/Christman was chosen to build the facility, even though two other bidders had more experience in building treatment facilities and proposed cheaper alternatives. A month after the facility opened, a wall collapsed, releasing 150,000 gallons of partially treated sewage. "I think our community should be concerned about this whole debacle," Kurtz said. Kurtz wanted Gourdie-Fraser and its partner, construction firm Christman Co., to agree to cover all costs associated with rebuilding the facility. Gourdie-Fraser/Christman would agree only if certain amounts were capped - potentially leaving township taxpayers on the hook for anything beyond the capped amounts. The other townships agreed to the cap but reversed themselves when they learned the problems with the facility may be more extensive than the collapsed wall. "I think it's a real scary situation if the facility is as bad as what I'm being told," Kurtz said, referring to the design firm's unwillingness to take financial responsibility for rebuilding coupled with Houlihan's plan to release only the final report on the investigation. See Related Stories: Public awaits report on collapse of septage plant - September 27, 2005 Taxpayers won't foot bill for septage plant repairs - July 26, 2005 Officials looked for 'spin' in septage plant collapse - July 23, 2005 Septage spill situation becoming muddled, attorney says - July 23, 2005 Septage plant repairs tagged at $2 million - July 19, 2005 Health risk from septage plant failure said minimal - July 19, 2005 Well owners near GT County's septage plant fear contamination - June 25, 2005 GT County's septage treatment plant may reopen - June 22, 2005 Septage plant 'structural failure' is investigated - June 21, 2005 Burst tank rocks GT County's new septage plant - June 19, 2005
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