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August 3, 2005Septage plant collapse inquiry is stuck in 'spin' cycleThe issue: Our view: See Related Story: Now it's time to get serious about the "structural failure" that allowed 150,000 gallons of partially treated septic tank waste to spew from the facility in June. Specifically, it's time to find out what went wrong. What caused the flaw in a building that became operational only a month earlier? So far there has been little more than a kids' game of hot potato when it comes to determining a cause. On the plus side, officials have said the cost to repair the plant - estimated at $2 million - will not be borne by the taxpayer. That's good news, but other than stating the incredibly obvious, it's little reassurance that public money wasn't wasted in the first place. In the month and a half since the collapse officials have watched, seemingly helplessly, as contractors, designers and engineers dance around each other, not wanting to be the first to be held accountable. An attorney for the county board of public works was initially optimistic that an explanation could be determined quickly. He then altered his view, saying that insurance companies, attorneys and consultants had reviewed the wreckage, but no one wanted to be the first to speak. At the same time, the board agreed to hire an outside consultant to help get to the bottom of the mess. Again, lots of talk and no action. To date, no one has been hired, leaving to their own devices the people with a vested interest in obfuscation. And members of the county's water and sewer committee, which included county and local officials, did themselves no favor by trying to come up with a "positive spin" to avoid losing credibility in the eyes of the public. Among their absurd solutions to that problem was the commissioning of a documentary film to tell the officials' side of the story - whatever that might be. What's needed at this point is for county and local officials to exhibit a modicum of leadership. They must follow through and hire the outside consultant to get to the bottom of the "disaster" (to use their terminology) and affix responsibility. Foremost, they must let the public know the unvarnished facts. Only through a complete accounting can residents be confident their representatives are working in their interests - not those of private companies and their insurance agents.
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