Spencer County declares emergencies after pump-station overflow and EMS HVAC failure; residents raise zoning concerns

County Judge/Executive John Riley declared two separate emergencies tied to essential services and infrastructure during the Spencer County Fiscal Court meeting on July 7.

Riley said he invoked KRS 39A.100(3)(d) on June 28 after EMS Director Chris Limpp reported an unrepairable air-conditioning unit at the county EMS offices and ordered Martin Heating & Air to replace the unit immediately to protect operations amid high heat and humidity.

Riley also declared an emergency on July 5 after Limpp reported a malfunctioning lift station and overflow at the Top Flight Landing package treatment plant that required immediate contractor response to contain sewage runoff. The declaration authorized Limpp to engage contractors and equipment as necessary to minimize damage and ensure an unrestricted response while state environmental agencies evaluated the site.

An engineering update submitted by OHM Advisors principal Steve Emly described on-site remediation: Hepaco began stream-bank and creek cleanup; MAC Construction worked on a more extensive force-main repair than originally anticipated; Allied Pump provided bypass pumping monitored by telemetry; and permanent telemetry was scheduled to be installed to give operators real-time alerts for pump failures. Emly wrote that an impeller made to pass flushable wipes had been installed on one pump and a second impeller was expected in four to five weeks.

"The problems associated with the station have been largely associated with residents flushing things they shouldn't flush, including 'flushable' wipes, dental floss, hair, etc.," Emly wrote. He said owner Jack Kaninberg had been notifying residents to stop flushing such items and that the owner planned to “do whatever is needed to provide a high level of service to the residents in Top Flight Landings.”

During public comment, resident Cathy Summers raised concerns about whether the package treatment facility, operated by the plant owner, had capacity to serve additional homes if zoning changes proceed. Lawrence Trageser said he had provided magistrates and the county attorney with Division of Water enforcement documents alleging package-plant violations and proposed requiring a bond from the plant operator or builder to cover future failures rather than shifting responsibility to homeowners. Trevor Brown expressed similar concerns about responsible growth and traffic impacts.

Judge Riley reminded commenters that the floor was not a formal public hearing but said the court would consider the concerns. Officials said the portion of proposed rezoning that was the focus of some public controversy would not connect to the pump station at issue.

The court’s actions later that meeting included zoning approvals in the Top Flight area for a separate 12.7-acre parcel that included binding elements and required shoulder and tree work, while it continued another rezoning request for 21 acres in Top Flight until July 19.