HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 7802 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7 A-0- 2
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council February 22, 1994
0
Subject: ENPORMATION CONCERNING ILLEGAL DUMP - 4900 SOUTH
RIVERSIDE DRIVE
The following information is provided pursuant to a news story that has appeared
on Channel 8 concerning the handling of an illegal dump located at 4900 South
Riverside Drive.
On November 10, 1993, the Director of City Services received a telephone call
from the owner of property located at 4900 South Riverside Drive. The property
owner had received a notice at that location from a Code Enforcement officer for
illegal land use on November 9. The property owner indicated that upon receiving
the notice he attempted to call the Director of Transportation and Public Works
and that after being informed that he had retired was referred to the Director of
City Services.
The property owner in his conversation with the Director of City Services
indicated that he owned property on South Riverside Drive which was zoned for
multi-family housing. He indicated that in mid-August 1993 he had submitted
a perimeter survey with elevations to the Director of Transportation and Public
Works requesting permission to fill low places on the property with construction
debris thereby making it more attractive for development. The property owner
indicated that the information was reviewed and returned to him a couple of
weeks later with a note Indicating approval to proceed.
In early November 1993 the property owner moved a trailer onto the site and took
out a permit with the City to obtain electrical service for a "landfill". He then
proceeded to allow construction wastes to be hauled to the site.
On November 10, 1993 following his conversation with the property owner, the
Director of City Services met the property owner at 4900 South Riverside Drive.
He inspected the site and found approximately 200 cubic yards of waste
consisting primarily of asphalt roofing materials, paper wrappings for shingles,
pallets and waste associated,with remodeling and construction such as sheet
rock, sheet metal, and some wood. Approximately 450 waste tires were also
scattered throughout the site.
After inspecting the site, the Director of City Services indicated to the property
owner that what he was doing was in fact illegal and required permitting. At that
point the property owner indicated that he would allow no additional materials to
be brought to the site and that he would bury what was there. He was told not
to bury any material and not to allow any additional materials to be brought onto
or,
the site.
- ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 7802 -
.,�P into February 22, 1994
U0A 10
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
0
X, Subject: INFORMATION CONCERNING ILLEGAL DUMP' - 4900 SOUTH
RIVERSIDE DRIVE
It was determined that the property owner had not had any previous code
violations. There was no evidence of putrescible wastes on the site nor was there
any indication of barrels or other containers that might contain lJquids. The
waste materials were for the most part Inert and not considered an environmental
threat. The property owner acted, to a certain extent, on bad information received
from the City. Considering those facts, the Director of City Services believed it to
be in the best interests of the City and the property owner to require the property
owner to arrange for collection and transportation of the waste tires to a tire
processor and to allow the remaining construction wastes to be buried on the
site.
The property owner was subsequently notified and agreed to comply with those
instructions. There was one additional occurrence when a load of roofing shingles
was dumped on the property without the property owner's knowledge. That
material was buried with the other wastes. The trailer and electrical service were
removed from the property and new fencing was erected to prevent any further
dumping. The property owner Is aware that he will have to continue to monitor
the property for any settling that might occur or erosion.
Following notifying the property owner of how the City Services Director proposed
to resolve this problem, a Deputy City Marshal in the Solid Waste Environmental
Enforcement Program(S.W.E.E.P.) learned of it. The S.W.E.E.P. officer informed
the Director of City Services that he was making a case against the property
owner and was almost ready to arrest him. He was told by the Director of City
Services that the problem was being handled and that there was no need for him
to continue with his investigation. S.W.E.E.P. is a program funded 50% by the
Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission and 50% by the Solid Waste
Fund. The City should be receiving information about future State funding within
the next few weeks.
Additional information will be provided upon request.
Bob
Terrell
City Manager
- ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS