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September 27, 2005Public awaits report on collapse of septage plantOfficials spar over details being released (*)ByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY -The public will be able to see only the final report on what caused Grand Traverse County's new septage plant to collapse, says the attorney for the public works board. Not so, says Grand Traverse County administrator Dennis Aloia. All draft reports and other documentation produced by an independent engineering firm will be available, too. "There will be nothing that won't be made public," Aloia said. "You have to trust us on that one." Public works attorney Michael Houlihan disagreed. He said he won't release anything other than the final report to the public "for fear of getting the people so thoroughly confused that we would never get it untangled." He also said he intends to release only the final report to public works board members - unless they instruct him to release more to them or the public. Houlihan said he hired engineering consultants, NTH Consultants Ltd., which reports directly to him. The arrangement allows him to keep the information confidential as an attorney work product and exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. Houlihan said he has given verbal reports but nothing in writing to Aloia, public works chairman Doug Mansfield, and Peninsula Township supervisor Rob Manigold, a member of the county's water and sewer committee. In a memo to the board of public works Houlihan said NTH will submit a draft report by Oct. 14 for him to consider in confidence. "We are keeping quiet about the details of this investigation so that as many questions can be asked and answered before the report is released," his memo stated. Houlihan said he wants to keep the report sharply focused on the cause of the collapse and NTH's review of the design and construction of the entire facility. Most of the details under discussion now will either appear in the main body of the report or as an appendix, Houlihan said. Documents such as the original questions submitted by NTH to designer Gourdie-Fraser Inc. will not be released, Houlihan said. "It isn't a document intended for public consumption, it's a working document submitted by the contractor," he said. There were few questions about the arrangement at Monday's board meeting, but Aloia later requested one change. He wants former county administrator K. Ross Childs, temporary director of the county department of public works, involved in all reports and discussions with NTH.
Clearing the Record
Due to an editor's error, the original secondary headline on this story said attorneys were in disagreement over releasing reports on the incident. In fact, the disagreement was between an attorney for the county and the county administrator. See Related Stories: 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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