No plant in Killen, for now

KILLEN -- Bridge Road residents can breathe a little easier today.

Mayor Jerry Mitchell announced Tuesday that the Bridge Road site is no longer being considered as a location for a sewage treatment facility.

Mitchell said Alabama Utility Services LLC, of Birmingham, has decided not to exercise its option on the 70-acre site.

The company had been studying the feasibility of building a sewage treatment facility at the location. Mitchell said the company abandoned the site because of "economic reasons."

In August, the company announced that preliminary tests indicated that the Bridge Road site was suitable for such a facility.

The potential project led to the formation of the Bridge Road Environmental Watch, or BREW. Rhea Fulmer, one of BREW's leaders, said she did not care what reason the company gave for giving up on the Bridge Road site.

"They can say whatever they want to," Fulmer said Tuesday. "I'll always believe that we stopped them."

BREW was concerned about the effects of runoff from the property that is near Six Mile Creek, which empties into the Tennessee River.

Members also were concerned about potential health risks and the facility's effect on property values.

"This was the wrong site from the beginning," Fulmer said.

Mitchell said Alabama Utility Services will continue working with Killen to solve Killen's long-term sewage disposal needs.

"We're certainly open to them finding something that will work for Killen in the long term," the mayor said. "I'll be talking all this over with the council.

"We're probably getting close to the point of talking it over with all the people in Killen at a public hearing."

Mitchell said the town has continued its dialogue with the city of Florence about tapping onto the city's sewer system, which could handle the additional load.

Alabama Utility Services also has other sites in the Killen area it will study, he said.

"We're still prepared to listen to Alabama Utilities if they come up with the right thing," Mitchell said.

As for BREW, Fulmer said the organization would likely go into hibernation rather than disband. "For the time being, I see us staying in contact with each other and monitoring the situation," she said.

As for what's best for Killen and its future growth, Fulmer said she thinks hooking up to the Florence system is the best long-term solution.

Russ Corey can be reached at 740-5738 or russ.corey@timesdaily.com.