Deadline Missed For Septic Work State Agency Warns Trailer Park Owner To Fix Problems Or Face Consequences

The owner of a trailer park near Kingston, Idaho, has failed to meet a court-imposed deadline for satisfying state requirements for a new septic system.

“We are disappointed with the lack of progress toward resolution of these requirements of the Serenity Terrace Trailer Park’s wastewater system,” Gary Gaffney of the Division of Environmental Quality wrote to owner Thom Lane on Monday. “We hope you … will quickly rectify the problems and get this system into compliance before more serious consequences develop.”

Gaffney didn’t elaborate on what the consequences might be, but the Panhandle Health District has been trying to shut down Serenity Terrace. Scott Reed, health district attorney, said the agency will be watching for Lane’s response to DEQ before deciding whether to go back to court.

In December, Lane got a break from 1st District Court Judge Craig Kosonen, who didn’t close the park despite calling Lane’s failure to meet earlier deadlines and regulations “inexcusable.” Kosonen said he didn’t want to force trailer park residents from their homes.

However, Kosonen told Lane he must comply with 10 state requirements for the park’s new septic system, which does not meet health district standards.

Lane failed to meet half of the requirements by the Jan. 31 deadline, Gaffney said.

On Tuesday, Lane’s attorney focused on the fact that Lane has met half the requirements.

“That’s a positive step,” attorney Robert Fasnacht said. “He’s committed to make sure all of the DEQ requirements are met. He’s pumped a lot of money into that trailer court.”

The park perches above the North Fork of the Coeur d’Alene River. Its septic system failed last winter, leaving untreated sewage water on the ground.

Health district officials concluded it would be impossible to build an adequate underground septic system on the rocky hillside. They took the unusual step of going to court to stop Lane from building a new system. They wanted the park closed. But in last-minute negotiations, they agreed to let him proceed, at his own risk, to try to meet the standards.

The new septic system wasn’t big enough to meet state standards. It had initial problems, resulting in more contaminated water running into a ditch.

On Dec. 7, Kosonen expressed sympathy for the 18 families that would have to move if the park were closed. He accepted Lane’s arguments that the new system was adequate and would soon be working properly. That’s when he told Lane he would have to meet the list of DEQ requirements.

The most significant problem remaining, Gaffney said, is proper diversion of a seasonal stream that carries water onto the drainfield. Lane’s engineer recommended putting in a 12-inch diversion pipe, but acknowledged that it could not handle extremely high flows of water.

“We are concerned that `extreme events’ might result in damages, erosion and water quality problems and that the proposed drainrock bedding would be incapable of containing peak flows within the pipe zone,” Gaffney wrote.

Among those watching the case is Ed DeMille, who is putting in a recreational vehicle park further up Coeur d’Alene River Road. After the December ruling, DeMille said he thought the judge was wrong to allow Lane to keep the park open.

“I’ve had to follow every (health district) rule with no exception. I’ve been jumping through hoops for four years,” he said, arguing that “the people who have money get by with whatever they want.”