29 new sewer pump stations may be illegal

The city of Marathon has what potentially could be a very expensive problem on its hands on Grassy Key -- possibly illegal pump stations. Weiler Engineering Corp., the city's sewer construction partner, is awaiting word on a second utility exception request with the state Department of Transportation for a series of above-ground pump stations installed as part of Marathon's sewer system. According to Jordan Salinger, a permits coordinator with DOT subcontractor Transfield Services, the pump stations are illegal. There are 29 total, all along an approximately 2-mile stretch of U.S. 1 starting near mile marker 57. The first request was denied on Sept. 13. Salinger said a second was submitted to her office on Feb. 14. DOT has 30 days to approve or deny it, she said. If that's denied, all 29 would have to be removed and installed further away from U.S. 1 -- possibly on private property. The pump stations are all well above ground and covered over -- beside a manhole lid -- with cement. There are power poles behind each one and four bright yellow posts protecting each one's perimeter. "The original approved plans only had the pump stations, not that they would be encased in concrete, have power poles and there were to be no bollards," Salinger said, referring to the yellow posts, made of thick metal. Many of the pump stations are in front of driveways leading to homes or businesses. Some of the owners said the pump stations and yellow posts are eyesores. "I've got a situation that is highly offensive and has devaluated my property. I'm struggling at the age of 87 to spend the rest of my days here," part-time resident Gene Midnight said. "It's kind of hard to swallow." "I'm tired of having this shoved down our throats and that's what's going on," Grassy Key resident Eric Petersen said. Salinger said DOT has "clear zones" based on the "design speed" for certain stretches of road. U.S. 1 on Grassy Key is rated at 60 mph, she said, meaning a clear zone of 36 feet measured from the outside white line of the lane. "If you're driving and you need to veer off the road, you should have a recovery area you can veer off into without hitting anything. Obviously, they're within the clear zone." Salinger also said DOT standards for installation come from its utility accommodation manual, or UAM. It says pump stations are to be underground. "If anything is above 4 inches, it's considered an above-ground fixed utility and they're considered unsafe. They would need to abide by the offset requirements," she said. Salinger said the city is arguing the pump stations were built above ground based on a Florida Department of Environmental Protection section of state administrative code requiring pump stations to be built at 25-year flood elevation. A Tuesday call to Weiler for comment was not returned by press time, but City Manager Roger Hernstadt said Weiler believes it provided information on the installation to DOT. "Weiler would tell you that DOT did know they were going in that way and that's what needs to be worked out," he said. "The important fact is there are obstructions like that up and down Overseas Highway all over the place. What's the appropriate protection for them?" he said. Hernstadt was clear, though, that the situation is Weiler's responsibility to resolve. It's unclear at this point how much it would cost to reconfigure the 29 pump stations. "We didn't design it. It's Weiler's responsibility to work out these issues. They know that and they'll work it out," he said.