Anderson County commissioners have endorsed donating up to 2.05 acres on Emory Valley Road for an Oak Ridge sewer system holding tank.
CLINTON—Despite a few concerns about whether the tank would be an eyesore, Anderson County officials on Monday endorsed a request to give up to 2.05 acres on Emory Valley Road in Oak Ridge for a sewer system holding tank.
The tank would be east of the former Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center, and it would be used to help Oak Ridge stop all sewer system overflows by 2015, as required by a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency order.
The Anderson County Commission endorsed the land donation in a voice vote Monday night.
Commissioner Jerry White voted against the request. He said people in the Emory Valley area think the tank, which could be about 125 feet in diameter and rise as high as 34 feet in the center, could be an eyesore and harmful to the community.
A sewer system equalization tank similar to the one proposed by Oak Ridge on Emory Valley Road east of the former Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center.
Commissioners discussed moving the tank farther back from Emory Valley Road and into the woods, and agreed to allow Oak Ridge to start soil sampling on other parts of the property, which is near the intersection of Emory Valley and Fairbanks roads. Commissioners said the Oak Ridge City Council could have a work session on the holding tank on Monday, Aug. 26.
Oak Ridge Public Works Director Gary Cinder has said several holding tanks are required at critical locations in the city to detain extra water flows during heavy rains to comply with the EPA order. The Emory Valley Road tank would be emptied within a few days after a heavy rain as capacity in the downstream sewers becomes available, Cinder said.
“It should be noted that while technically the material is considered sewage, it is predominantly storm water that has leaked into the sewer system and exceeding its capacity to carry it to the treatment plant,†he said in a memo last month.
Oak Ridge has asked Anderson County for the land to build the tank and an associated pump station. In return, the city would agree to take over the storm water detention pond at the site and perform required maintenance on the pond and surrounding land.
Cinder said the city doesn’t need the entire 2.05 acres if the county wants to keep the wooded area to the north of the tank.
The county-owned Daniel Arthur Center is used by satellite county offices, the Oak Ridge Senior Center, and the Emory Valley Center.
Commission Chair Chuck Fritts and Commissioner John Shuey were absent from Monday night’s meeting.
Philip W Nipper says
Speaking an Emory Valley resident, if this project is engineered with foresight and with ascetics in mind, and properly/regularly maintained, I see no problem having this tank in the proposed location. It would surely be less of an eyesore as some of the current structures located in the area such as the former hand ball court / gym next to the Food Lion which is slowly becoming one of our commercial blighted properties.
Angi Agle says
It would be even more aesthetically pleasing if it were placed mostly underground (and would require less electricity usage for the pump). Is this possible?
johnhuotari says
I have heard a few people suggest that, but I don’t know if the city is considering it. I plan to attend the Aug. 26 work session and should have more information by then about the possibility of having part of the tank underground.
Sam Hopwood says
It would be more expensive to put underground. an above ground tank could provide a great venue for creative Jefferson Middle school art students to provide Emory Valley residents with colorfull murals etc. Surely they would appreciate that… Go for it!!!
Philip W Nipper says
Great idea just as long as we keep animated electronic message signs out of the equation…..
johnhuotari says
I like the mural idea.