Opinion ID: 1104071
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Health Hazards.

Text: ś 28. The Neals argue that the Winona Elevator Property has no significant health hazards in existence and this indica of reasonableness is of little importance in this case. In support of their argument, the Neals rely upon the fact that the property already has a sewage treatment system. Harry Neal stated that he requested the City's sewer system service in 1985, but the City denied his request. Therefore, he installed his own system, the system has an alarm system and is serviced for repairs as needed by Michael Patridge. The new Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulations now require the waste to be treated on-site instead of having it go into a drainage ditch, however, Harry Neal stated that he would modify his system to meet the new requirements. ś 29. The chancellor stated: The soils in the area sought to be annexed are not conducive to the use of septic tanks according to the soil surveys prepared by the United States Soil Conservation Service. As each of the parcels are vacant except the Winona Elevator Parcel, one would not expect to find existing health hazards from the disposal of sewage. On the Winona Elevator Parcel however, the undisputed evidence is that the sewerage is being disposed of in a manner inconsistent with the present environmental laws of the state. On the date of the Court ordered inspection of the premises Michael Slaughter, a civil engineer, found that effluent was not being chlorinated. This indicator favors annexation. ś 30. This Court has further set out a number of factors to consider whether the potential health hazards are reasonable. These may or may not include: (1) potential health hazards from sewage and waste disposal; (2) a large number of septic tanks in the area; (3) soil conditions which are not conducive to on-site septic systems; (4) open dumping of garbage; and (5) standing water and sewage. In re Extension and Enlargement of the Mun. Boundaries of the City of Biloxi, 744 So.2d at 280; In re Extension of Corporate Boundaries of the Town of Mantachie, 685 So.2d 724, 727 (Miss.1996); Extension of the Boundaries of City of Ridgeland, 651 So.2d at 558; City of Horn Lake, 630 So.2d at 18; In re Matter of the Extension of the Boundaries of the City of Jackson, 551 So.2d at 866; City of Greenville, 513 So.2d at 935. City of Macon, 854 So.2d at 1038. ś 31. The chancellor found that the sewage disposal on the Winona Elevator Property was not in accordance with state environmental laws. A court-ordered inspection further revealed that the effluent was not chlorinated. In addition, evidence showed that the soil in the area to be annexed was not conducive to septic tank usage. Substantial credible evidence at the hearing supports the chancellor's finding of reasonableness for this indicium. ś 32. Specifically, on the Winona Elevator Property, Slaughter conducted an inspection of the premises as part of the discovery process in September prior to the hearing. After inspecting the sewer treatment system on the property, Slaughter concluded that it posed a health hazard and in general there were existing and potential health hazards on the site. He based his opinion on the fact that chlorine tablets were not touching the effluent at all and the system was not properly working so there was a lack of treatment and the effluent was leaving the property. During the hearing on February 12, 2002, Slaughter visited the site with the chancellor and attorneys and he found no change in the chlorination system. He found that the aeration system was makeshift and still in place and that the system did not meet environmental regulations. ś 33. Furthermore, the Winona Elevator Property has some 55 gallon drums with chemicals or oil in them for disposal. During his previous inspection, he found standing water and some tires with water in them on the property that indicated that either the tires need to be picked up or have mosquito control. Furthermore, after reviewing and mapping data from the Montgomery County United States Department of Agriculture Soil Survey concerning septic tank soil suitability, Slaughter stated that survey indicates that the area of the Neal property that fronts Highway 51 is considered to be severely unsuitable. This means that the soil would not absorb effluent from a filed line and a septic tank; and therefore, this limits the type of treatment facility that would be available for the site. ś 34. The dissent argues that this factor should not weigh in favor of the City. However, there is ample testimony to show that the water system was not working properly; the Neals knew beforehand that there was to be an inspection of the property, yet the system was not in proper working order nor was it in working order when the chancellor and attorneys viewed the site during the hearing; the ground was not conducive to septic tank usage; and there were 55 gallon drums, tires, and standing water on the property. ś 35. We find that the chancellor's findings for this indicium were supported by substantial credible evidence and were reasonable.