SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Discussions of sewer standards resumed during Monday’s City Council work session with one commissioner requesting time to incorporate new information into consideration and another questioning the focus of the  action.

District 1 Councilman Dennis Dismuke has asked fellow council members to consider adopting an amendment to the city’s right-of-way ordinance that would adopt standards and specifications for the installation of sewer lines and set minimum separation requirements for those lines from water lines.

Specifically, Dismuke wants the council to adopt the standards and specifications set forth in Baldwin County Sewer Services' existing franchise agreement with the city as a minimum standard while incorporating at least some portions of the Ten State Standard that sets separation requirements.

Mayor Pro Tem Mike McMillan said BCSS is in the process of revising its standards, with proposed changes in the hands of engineers, and he expects the utility company to have a working document in place by March 1. In the short-term, he suggested calling a meeting with BCSS officials and Building Official Bruce Renkert to discuss Dismuke’s concerns that projects have been allowed to move forward without engineering approval from the city.

Meanwhile, District 4 Councilman Tom Sawyer asked Dismuke why he chooses to focus exclusively on only one aspect of the Ten State Standard in citing his public health concern.

Sawyer said his research reveals standard also addresses separation requirements for both septic tank lines and swimming pools, and his discussions with other municipalities have revealed cross-contamination from septic lines poses a more probable threat than sewer lines.

“If we’re going to look at this, we need to look at it in a broad scope and not change piece by piece by piece. If public safety is the issue, we need to look at and prioritize what poses the greatest threat to our community,” Sawyer said.