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Resident cites wetlands, septic and safety concerns as Dollar General nears opening in Cook Springs
Summary
A Cook Springs resident told the St. Clair County Commission that land-clearing and fill at the new Dollar General site likely affected federally regulated wetlands, and raised worries about the store's septic system, runoff into nearby creeks and traffic hazards at a one-lane railroad tunnel.
Nancy Fincher, a Cook Springs resident, told the St. Clair County Commission at its May 21 work session that she had obtained records she said show the Broadway Group LLC and KME Development LLC filled wetlands and later sought after-the-fact retention permits related to a Dollar General site at Mountaintop Loop Road and U.S. 78. "Following an investigation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Broadway Group filed a request to retain unauthorized fill," Fincher said, adding the developer entered a consent agreement dated March 5, 2024 and paid civil penalties and mitigation costs.
Fincher said the parcel's on-site sewage permit (Permit No. 33839) was approved for a small-flow septic system that uses pumps and filters and requires ongoing maintenance. "Systems of this type require constant maintenance and regular servicing to avoid pump failures, clogs, backups, and sewage discharge problems," she said, warning that a high-traffic retail restroom could create increased failure risk and off-site impacts to adjacent creeks.
She also urged the commission to order an engineering and safety assessment of a one-lane railroad tunnel on Cook Springs Road that drivers would likely use to reach the store from I-20 Exit 152. Fincher recommended measures such as flashing warning lights, mirrors, stop-control systems or speed bumps to reduce the risk of head-on collisions at the tunnel.
Commissioners and staff acknowledged the concerns and said they would compile records in response to Fincher's public-records request and have the county attorney review permitting steps. Chair (speaker 1) said county floodplain permits and health-department approvals are frequently handled through separate state or federal agencies, and commissioners asked county attorney Kirk Walker to confirm what the county did or did not require during the developer's site work. "We'll give you everything we got," the chair said.
County engineer Clay Phillips told commissioners the store's applicant had previously submitted an abbreviated study by Trail Engineering; he noted some developers locate entrances on local side roads to avoid state-required turn lanes on the highway. Commissioners discussed that a state-required turn lane on Highway 78 could cost roughly $300,000.
On traffic mitigation, staff cautioned about county liability and insurance advice against installing speed bumps at some intersections; rumble strips or other lower-liability measures were discussed as alternatives. Commissioners also acknowledged limits where railroad property, state agencies or federal permits intersect with county authority and said follow-up work would include legal review and gathering all correspondence and permits requested under Fincher's records request.
The commission did not take formal action at the work session; staff said the county attorney will review the documents and return findings, and that any formal options (permit challenges, engineering studies, traffic controls) would be discussed at a future meeting.
