Central sewer putting cart before the horse?

            This is a personal letter not representing any organization.

            The latest news is that the county commission "believes that six months is sufficient time for it to gather the information it needs to make a decision" about the possible need for central sewer in the St. George Island business district, according to a letter the county attorney sent last week to Gene Brown's representative in the Public Service Commission application.

            Yet the initial plan to get "the information it needs" is based on a water and soil testing study that doesn't distinguish between human and animal waste. In other words, no matter what the results, the study proposed won't tell us whether overflowing septic systems are really the problem, as opposed to dogs, raccoons, etc.

            The commissioners deserve some credit for finally slowing the mad rush to allow Gene Brown to build a central sewer system - but how much have they really slowed down?

            There's no turning back once a permit to issue a wastewater system is issued, yet now we have an artificial six-month timeline to answer questions from all sides.

            In fact, tests exist to show whether samples of fecal material come from human sources or not. Wouldn't it make sense to ask that question first, then home in on areas where we know humans are causing the problem?

            Some say doing the more advanced test is too expensive. Too expensive for what - to protect Apalachicola Bay and St. George Island? That seems like a contradiction in terms.

            State and federal agencies should find the money to let the county do all the best studies it needs, with no artificial timelines. And the county commission and their staff - and the public - should raise Cain to make sure others pitch in with serious financial support on this crucial issue.

            Kevin Begos

            Apalachicola