Dothan Commission Enters Into Agreement With EPA On Sewer Treatment Plant - Mayor Schmitz Managed Team To Resolve Issues

Rickey Stokes

Viewed: 2357

Posted by: RStokes
Date: Jul 17 2012 10:44 PM

DOTHAN:   Early one morning Federal Agents with the EPA showed up in Dothan and hit multiple sewer treatment plants with search warrants. The Federal Agents also showed up at City Hall with search warrants for data from the Information Technology Department.

This made Dothan management wonder “what the crap is going on”.

If you have had any experience with Federal Agents you know they are not very good about telling you what is going on. In fact, Dothan City Attorney Freddie Len White was treated somewhat like a “small fry” by the Federal Agents.

Now it is scary when you see people carrying guns, wearing bullet proof vests and taking control of the sewer treatment facilities.

Do you wait – or do you go to work?

That was the question for Dothan Mayor Mike Schmitz.

Having extensive business experience and extensive experience in working on problems and issues in the business world, Dothan Mayor Mike Schmitz grabbed the reigns of Dothan. The Mayor assembled a team together to work on this specific issue.

Mayor Schmitz knew this issue, created long before he ever became Mayor of the City of Dothan, had the potential of breaking Dothan financially. The commission had confidence in the ability of Mayor Schmitz.

With combined efforts of many persons, to include Dothan City Attorney Freddie Len White and other legal minds who specialize in federal issues, the team began to meet with those involved with this situation.

Plans were set, bench marks set, and together this team under the personal direct supervision of Mayor Mike Schmitz made obligations for Dothan and bench mark decisions to get the problems resolved and  under control.

Today the commission UNANIMOUSLEY approved an EPA Resolution. As Mayor Schmitz started reading the resolution he paused with emotion. Genuine emotion.

The resolution is designed to make sure that Dothan’s sewer treatment system is properly maintained. The Beaver Creek plant has been closed. The Little Choctawhatchee plant was expanded to handle the old work.

Since March 2010 the City of Dothan, under the personal hand management of Dothan Mayor Mike Schmitz and Dothan City Manager Mike West, has worked to be co-operative and settle issues. Most importantly to work to save Dothan as much financially as possible.

This issue is not one that you can discuss. This issue is not one that you can get in front of the public and talk much about.

The City of Dothan has done a good job. Mayor Mike Schmitz and City Manager Mike West have done a good job in formulating a plan and executing that plan.

And for the record  - Dothan City Attorney Freddie Len White has done a good job in working with all parties and the other attorneys in working on resolving this issue. In fact – I might just promote Freddie Len White to a “large fry”!

Good job to all!!!

Item #09-Administrative Order With NPDES

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