Sewage problem plagues Union Gap family
UNION GAP -- KIMA continues to investigate a Union Gap trailer park that's been out of code and a trouble with criminal activity.
Now we've learned trailer park neighbors are finding raw sewage in their yards. KIMA learned a long history of citations from Union Gap hasn't done much to solve the problem.
Raw sewage has filled Kevin Cask's backyard for what he says is the 10th time this year.
"I'm angry,” said Cask. “I'm a nice person, but I'm just angry about it now because I've got, my daughter hasn't been able to come over here and play for a year and a half we need to keep our animals inside."
The sewage comes from next door. Just feet from Kevin's fence, there's a sump pump that supports a trailer park. The problem is it keeps breaking. The sewage backs up and flows right into his yard. The worst part is the smell.
"Basically, anybody who's ever been in an outhouse before, when you first walk in there and you smell it, that's what smell is in the air at all times," said Cask.
The health department has called it hazardous as well as the city. So, why hasn't the city done anything about this? Well, according to them their hands are tied by the law. They've done everything they can up until this point, writing more than a dozen citations. Their next step is to take the property owner next door to court.
A city codes officer was actually at the trailer park collecting evidence when we were there.
"Right there, you can see water residue,” said Mac Fyrrce, code enforcement officer.
The owner of the trailer park also showed up to try to fix the problem. He told us the problem would be fixed in the next 20 minutes.
"I guess the switch fell on the sump pump again he's (the owner) saying,” said Fyrrce. “So, it happens well, it's not the first time."
"I can't be responsible for equipment burning out or going haywire," said Fred Dills, trailer park owner.
He said he does fix the pump. The problem is the fix is only temporary and neighbors here can't continue to live with this.
The city asked the trailer park owner to hire an engineer to fix the pump. He has refused. A fight in court is likely the next step. We'll stay on it.
Now we've learned trailer park neighbors are finding raw sewage in their yards. KIMA learned a long history of citations from Union Gap hasn't done much to solve the problem.
Raw sewage has filled Kevin Cask's backyard for what he says is the 10th time this year.
"I'm angry,” said Cask. “I'm a nice person, but I'm just angry about it now because I've got, my daughter hasn't been able to come over here and play for a year and a half we need to keep our animals inside."
The sewage comes from next door. Just feet from Kevin's fence, there's a sump pump that supports a trailer park. The problem is it keeps breaking. The sewage backs up and flows right into his yard. The worst part is the smell.
"Basically, anybody who's ever been in an outhouse before, when you first walk in there and you smell it, that's what smell is in the air at all times," said Cask.
The health department has called it hazardous as well as the city. So, why hasn't the city done anything about this? Well, according to them their hands are tied by the law. They've done everything they can up until this point, writing more than a dozen citations. Their next step is to take the property owner next door to court.
A city codes officer was actually at the trailer park collecting evidence when we were there.
"Right there, you can see water residue,” said Mac Fyrrce, code enforcement officer.
The owner of the trailer park also showed up to try to fix the problem. He told us the problem would be fixed in the next 20 minutes.
"I guess the switch fell on the sump pump again he's (the owner) saying,” said Fyrrce. “So, it happens well, it's not the first time."
"I can't be responsible for equipment burning out or going haywire," said Fred Dills, trailer park owner.
He said he does fix the pump. The problem is the fix is only temporary and neighbors here can't continue to live with this.
The city asked the trailer park owner to hire an engineer to fix the pump. He has refused. A fight in court is likely the next step. We'll stay on it.
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