^ Herald - Lantern - Dispatch 9 )uly '86

No Swim Time on the Tuckahoe —

(From Page 1) But some residents aren't satisfied with those explanations, or the Health Department's methods. "They can't tell me it's ducks and birds ; that's bullshit!" said Louis DiLuzio of Tuckahoe, an Upper Township committeeman and owner of the Riverview Campground. "I know vou don't get a reading "... v"; JHP Maurmn Coyle SAMPLING — Jim Neville, a lab technician with the county Health Department, wades into the Tuckahoe River near Riverview Campground to take a water sample.

one week of 17 (MPN) and one the next week of 920 (MPN) unless somebody's been dumping." DILUZIO QUESTIONED fluctuations in several areas, particularly Carll Road. '"Htey got a 920 (MPN) reading on the 25th and a count of 33 on the 27th," DiLuzio said. "Maybe all the deer moved out; they said there's a lot of deer in the area. Do they think people believe that stuff?" Lamanna said the Health Department has not ruled out illegal dumping, but has not found any evidence of it. "If it happened and it happened once, the results could have shown up and maybe, with all the publicity, whoever tried it knows better than to do it again." Lamanna said. "I'll tell you this, if we catch someone we will prosecute him." "THEY'RE JUST TRYING to hold their jobs." DiLuzio said. "They're testing 13 sites on the river so it looks like they're doing something. But it's time they get down on their haunches and find out who is doing the dumping." "Now they're fl using dye down toilets," he said. "They did that 10 years ago and didn't find any problems from the sewage systems. The Health Department has been dumping flourescent dye in toilets to determine if any leachate from sewage systems is finding its way to the river. "If we're dealing with properties with old systems, there is some leachate that could take place," Lamanna said. "It (the problem) could be leachate; or, again, somebody could have dumped a load of sewage. "It's possible," he added. "There are a

lot of little roads and paths leading back to > that river." LAMANNA SAID a few "gray water i violations" have been discovered, where water from sinks and tubs is being illegally ; discharged above ground. > DiLuzio questioned why the Health Department hasn't tested above the river i in Atlantic County. "Why don't they go up above April's Cranberry Bog (the dam on the Cape i May/Atlantic County border) and sample the water?" DiLuzio asked. "Why don't we see if anyone is sampling above us? It I could be coming from there." Last week, Lamanna said he has enlisted the help of the Atlantic County ■ Health Department and was meeting with Cumberland County officials. The Tuckahoe River divides Cape May and 1 Atlantic counties and runs through Cumberland County, i RESULTS OF testing on the Atlantic \ County side of the river on July 4 led to the closing of the Corbin City Beach, an unofficial bathing hole. I The Atlantic County Health Department ' also said the river has historically had high fecal counts "Kids are always in the river, they have * been for years," said Matt Gihorski, 28 of Marshallville Road, "and nobody's been told of any problems." i "We've had the river closed at times in ' the past/' Lamanna said. "There, have * been selective posting and river closing." . Gihorsky questioned why Upper f Township was notified June 20 of the river closing, but residents were not notified by » the township until June 26. "I don't blame the township, I blame the Department of Health," Gihorski said "They're in charge of our health and welfare." LAMANNA SAID the first high counts were taken in isolated spots and that standard procedure is to hand-deliver notices to township officials and post problem areas. "It's not clear whether anyone on committee was notified," Lamanna said. "Since we were dealing with a localized problem, there was no heavy attemp to notify them. "We certainly didn't want a news blitz." he added. "There were localized problem areas. Then other areas of the river tested high."

Lamanna said he requested immediate publicity June 27, after several areas on the river tested high. "From here on out, we'll be handling all the publicity," he said. "I can assure you of that." GIHORSKI DISAGREED with the Health Department's explanation of runoff from animal farms, saying there has been little rainfall. Also, he said, there are no animal farms in the area. "They talk about storm runoff; what storms?" Gihorski asked. "I've seen places dry that I've never seen dry before. "Then they talk about the animal farms," he added. "What is it, Kansas City, around here?" Lamanna agreed that the lack of rainfall recently should not have contributed to a runoff problem. Animal farms, he said, exist all along the river and there are several horse farms upriver of Tuckahoe that may be contributing to the pollution. Gihorski also said he is concerned that the bacteria will enter area wells. "THEY FLUSHED DYE down the toilets and checked the river, but they didn't check to see if any of the stuff is leaking into the wells," he said. "While they're here checking everything else, why don't they take a glass of water?" Lamanna said his department has not been checking wells and will not unless someone requests it. Homeowners are charged for water testing, he said. "Normally, groundwater flow is away from wells and properties," Lamanna said. "That indicates that most groundwater is flowing toward the river. "Maybe some is flowing away from the river, I don't know; it would take a geological survey to find out," Lamanna said. "If somebody is concerned, they can have their water tested." GIHORSKI QUESTIONED whether the Health Department has tested for pesticides, which might indicate whether runoff from farming operations is contributing. "No, we haven't," Lamanna said. "We're not equipped to do that here. It would have to be done by the state." Lamanna said his department will begin strep testing this week. "That will give us an indication of whether or not the pollution is largely from animal or human sources," said.

300 Sign to Protest Villas Public Water

By E. J. DUFFY' VILLAS — Alex Swider of Star Avenue is an old union man who knows how to circulate a petition. He's collected about 300 signatures from Villas residents opposed to public water service in their neighborhoods. "These are the people who want Stump out." Swider. 67, said of Lower Manager James R. Stump, township MUA executive director "He might get city water in there, but he can't make people connect. "THERE WERE ABOUT eight or 10 people who want the city water in," added the former union local president from Roxborough. Philadelphia. "I could go on for days and days and days, but it's not going to change the ratio," he continued, referring to the petition. "This is what he (Stump) should have done." Instead, Swider complained, Stump held a 10 a.m. hearing May 29 on a proposed $300,000 Small Cities grant to install a 12-inch water main to the southern edge of Villas from MUA lines at Breakwater and Bayshore roads, Fishing Creek. If approved, the grant would pay for the first phase of a public water system in Villas, estimated at $16 million. It's been proposed to replace many salt-tainted wells. ONLY EIGHT PEOPLE attended that Ijearing, Swider griped, and "five of them were politicians." He happened to be in Township Hall at the time, he said, and attended the hearing by accident "Why didn't they have it in the evening," when workaing people could attend? he asked "They refused to listen" to his arguments, among them: that "there is no such thing as bad water that can't be helped" by drilling deeper wells; that "they won't get more than 50 percent" from a grant toward the project costs," and, therefore, "it's going to hurt more than a 100 people who are going to have to sell their houses. "They're living on dog food now, some of them, by the end of the month," Swider said of neighbors on fixed and inadequate incomes. "Better water would be different, but they're not going to get better water," he maintained, noting that the public water would be pumped from township wells which, like the private ones, tap groundwater aquifers. "We've got enough water here for 1,000 years. "If they're so worried about it, why don't they pass a law that the builder of a house has to guarantee that the well will be good for five years?" Swider suggested. "If he

(Stump) is so interested in having people have proper water, why doesn't he get a grant" for drilling wells on isolated, undersized municipal lots? "That, to me, would be the most logical thing to do," Swider observed. "I DON'T THINK WE'LL dictate: Yes, everybody must connect,' " Stump told Township Council in May. But Swider doesn't buy that. "I asked him (Stump) about that; I asked him to put that in writing. "You've got to charge poeple for that," Swider skeptically insisted. "They should do it by referendum," he said of any decision about public water service. But he also wants councilmembers "to go on the record" in the matter. "First of all, I don't know this individual and I don't remember ever talking to him" Stump said of Swider last week "He doesn't really know what we're talking about." The MUA is "not proposing" mandatory connections for water service throughout Villas, Stump said. "What we are proposing is: we are going to build a water supply line from the existing system to the people who are having problems with salt water intrusion." If the grant's approved, the 12-inch supply main to Villas — "almost an emergency extension" — would alleviate a "health problem" Stump added, alluding to a county Health Department report of nearly two years ago that listed 247 private Villas wells as tainted with or contaminated by salt. "THIS IS GOING TO be paid for 100 per cent by the federal government." Stump said of any grant for the extension line. "Then we would go into the area and ask: 'Who wants to hook up?' "We're not going to force anybody to hook up," Stump stressed. "It would just be a nominal cost for hooking in. "I think it's a great program," he added, again noting: "Here we have a health problem." (Citing salt water intrusion in Villas and high nitrate readings in several Erma wells, the township Board of Health recommended in March that Council impose a township-wide building moratorium. Solicitor Bruce Gorman advised Council, however, that it didn't have that authority; Council voted instead to study local water probldajs. ) "This guy doesn't know" what he's talking about," Stump said of Swider, —"and his information is incorrect. "Most of the people don't want it (public water), " Stump conceded, "and we realize that."

County-Owned Buildings Boom

(From Page 1) KEHR SAID THE STUDY was expected to provide information to "support the need to add personnel, show how many ought to be under one supervisor, how many supervisors should be overseen by someone above them, the total picture." Facilities and Services has about 100 employes and a $1.5-miIlion payroll. Kehr makes $32,807. The county 's largest department is Crest Haven Medical Facility with a staff of 160 and a $2.5 million payroll. Ottaway's project description said he'll "analyze, evaluate and recommend improvements in the mangement and operating procedures of the department." HE'LL ACCOMPLISH THIS, his proposal said, by "direct observation interviewing principal managers and a crosssection of operators, and reviewing written policies." The study will look at "management style, work flow and customer relations," it said. Ottaway will be assisted by Cheryl Fox of Fox Associates in Randolph. Scope of the county's physical expansion is best seen by looking at the eight-page "Buildings Directory," complete with maps, and noting the additions needed to bring it up to date. THE "COURTHOUSE COMPLEX," for example, has added the former Cape May County Savings & Loan building, which houses offices of the county clerk, and a new records room. Renovations to the courthouse, likely to start this fall, will double that building's space. The "Crest Haven complex" has a new garage to serve Facilities and Services, Health and roads departments, a new Public Service Training Facility, which will probably be expanded; and additions to the Mental Health Center. A small addition to prison administration is slated soon. The Jersey Cape Racquet Club is being acquired, with its first use expected to be offices for the Prosecutor during courthouse renovation.

A NEW CREST HAVEN Medical Facility for the Elderly should be started this year and, when it is completed, the present facility will be used primarily for county offices. The "County Airport complex" map will have to be enlarged to include the Everlon building, a 1 95, 000-squa re-foot plant where the county hopes to use 20,000 square feet for cold storage for the fishing industry. And the "temporary courts facility" will be located in what was an empty building here. The map showing the Mosquito Commission in Dias Creek and Social Services Building in Rio Grande needs changes because the county has purchased the Social Services Building (and proposes to add to it later this year) and at the same time acquired the adjacent American Cancer Society building. FINALLY. A MAP SHOWS the Agriculture Extension Service on Courthouse-South Dennis Road, the Park Commission on Route 9 in Crest Haven, and the Election Board, with an office in the Court House Village Shopping Center. That will need changes because the county has bought another 22 acres adjacent to the 4-H fairgrounds. And any current county "Buildings Directory" will need several new pages. They will have to show the Upper Cape branch of the county library in Petersburg, the County Park South in Del Haven, and Historic Cold Spring Village in Lower Township. Tape Meets(From Page 1) same as the present system of releasing freeholder minutes — after 90 days, or longer if the issue is still deemed "sensitive" by the freeholders. But the "minutes" are a two-page form that merely state who attended and the "subjects considered' ' with no indication of who said what. The tapes will fill that void.