Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.

The state of Florida is facing a lawsuit over unregulated septic systems near the Indian River Lagoon.

Investigative reporter Christopher Heath asked looked into the possible long-term dangers if Florida doesn't enforce its rules.

Derek Woodruff of Brownie's Septic & Plumbing is the last man most homeowners want to see standing in their front yard. That is, until something goes wrong.

"Sometimes you won't know you have a problem until you get some saturation or smell out in the yard," said Woodruff.

Woodruff showed Heath a septic system where roots found their way. Woodruff said it's unknown how much waste escaped before he and his crew arrived.

Without inspections there is no way to know if a septic system is about to fail, until it does.

"You got several thousand (septic systems) just in the city of Orlando that are failing every year and that's not counting the ones that are failed and not being repaired," said Mark Barhonovich of Brownie's Septic & Plumbing.

In 2010, the Florida Legislature mandated septic inspections to be performed every five years starting in 2016.

But, amid pressure from realtors, home builders and home owners, counties were given an opt-out. Every county has since, opted out.

The rest is here:
9 Investigates the effects of uninspected septic systems on the environment

The idea of a municipality or sewer authority using public money to facilitate repairs to broken and leaking privately owned sewer laterals isn't new, but it's one whose time has come, said state Rep. Harry Readshaw.

The Carrick Democrat, in Pittsburgh on Monday afternoon to chair Democratic Policy Committee hearing, said he has sponsored legislation to speed repairs to the leaky laterals for a decade, but approaching federal deadlines for reducing untreated sewage discharges into streams and rivers across the commonwealth now make action on House Bill 703 and 704 a priority.

The two bills would allow municipalities or public authorities to go onto private property to fix broken sewer laterals when the leaks cause damage to public property or pose a threat to public health, and make public funds available to pay for the work.

"There hasn't been a lot of opposition to this idea, and most people are for it. It's just been off the radar screen," Mr. Readshaw said of the bills that remain in committee and have not advanced for a vote. "Now, with federal consent decree deadlines approaching, the recognition of this issue is elevated. Now people are realizing that something must be done."

Mr. Readshaw said a state-administered funding program could be established -- he suggested starting with $5 million -- to provide low-interest loans or grants for low-income families to do the repairs, which can be expensive. The state operates a similar $5 million program to help fund privately owned septic system upgrades.

According to testimony at the hearing, broken and leaking laterals can cause sinkholes that buckle streets and sidewalks, and allow sewage to contaminate groundwater or pool on the surface in neighborhoods.

Broken laterals can also be inundated with inflow from groundwater and stormwater and channel it into public sewer collection pipes where it significantly increases the amount of flow and cost of sewage treatment. It also contributes to sewage overflows.

Jim Good, interim executive director of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority, said there are approximately 100,000 privately owned sewer laterals connecting to more than 1,200 miles of publicly owned sewer lines in the city and more than one-half of the laterals leak.

Because they are privately owned, the ability of the PWSA or Alcosan to fix the laterals is very limited, he said.

"But House Bill 704 would give us both the carrot and the stick," Mr. Good said, voicing his strong support. "The stick gives the PWSA the authority to go in and make repairs to private sewer laterals that are endangering public health or damaging public property, and then bill the property owner."

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State fund proposed for sewer line repairs

HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. (WTVD) -- A major clean-up is underway after a massive gasoline leak at a gas station in Holly Springs.

It happened Wednesday at the Exxon on North Main Street and Holly Springs Road.

Click here for a Google map of the area.

A utility installation crew struck and ruptured an underground gasoline storage tank causing more than 6,000 gallons of fuel to leak about 10 to 12 feet underground. Crews managed to drain the tank.

Luckily, most of the gas that seeped out stayed right by the tank.

"We checked all the storm drains, the water pipes and septic and sewer," said Holly Springs Fire Chief Leroy Smith. "We have no reading of gasoline."

The Exxon and a nearby Walgreens have been closed due to the leak. Other nearby businesses have been adversely affected as well.

"We've been slow since about 2:30 in the afternoon," said Little Caesars' manager Donald Sill. "People aren't able to come in which is affecting the business, affecting labor, affecting everything going on right now."

Roads in the area were closed for about four hours.

A Holly Springs official says they anticipate only partial roads closures during the rest of the clean-up.

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Gasoline tank ruptured in Holly Springs, thousands of gallons leak

Holly Springs, N.C. A gas leak was reported at the intersection of Main Street and Holly Springs Road Wednesday afternoon.

A construction crew installing underground fiber optic cables struck what was believed to be an underground gas tank at around 2:20 p.m., resulting in gas being released, authorities said.

Two nearby businesses - a gas station and a Walgreens - were evacuated. Authorities believe the tank belongs to the gas station, where a leak alarm went off.

An underground tank should not have been where crews were digging, officials said.

Gas was not in the roadway but its odor was present throughout the area, authorities said.

We have checked all the storm drains, the water pipes and the septic and sewer that is in the area and we have no readings where it went, said Chief LeRoy Smith with Holly Springs Fire & Rescue. So we are not sure if it is leaking, where it went.

Readings at the gas station show it could have lost thousands of gallons of fuel, officials said.

Originally posted here:
Gas leak reported in Holly Springs

I just finished reading Maggy Hurchallas commentary on Wednesdays Op-Ed Page of The Palm Beach Post. I am not getting into a debate on HB 703. I have always said that our state Legislature rides the short bus. But Martin County continues to embarrass itself by blaming absolutely all of its environmental problems on Florida Crystals and the Fanjul family.

There are 270,000 septic tanks that drain into the Indian River Lagoon. It is safe to assume that Florida Crystals does not own one of them. The counties that border the Indian River Lagoon have all taken great steps in correcting their practices that have for decades had a detrimental effect on the lagoon. The glaring exception to this is Martin County. Their fallback position is, and always has been: Its Sugars fault!

Do they forget that it was Hurchalla that championed septic tanks over a centralized sewer system when she was on the Martin County Commission? The logic being it would control growth. Not very sound logic. The fact that Martin County and Hurchalla fail to accept any responsibility for the condition of the Indian River Lagoon is getting to the point of being comical.

All of their hollering and screaming that the state should clean up the Indian River Lagoon because it is a $4.5 billion economic engine to the area has not gone unnoticed by Tallahassee. I recently attended a meeting where a representative from the Areas of Critical State Concern in the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity laid the blame squarely on the 270,000 septic tanks within the lagoon drainage area. Their position was that, like Apalachicola Bay and the Florida Keys, the Indian River Lagoon is too valuable an asset to the state to leave it up to the five counties to fix the problem. Particularly when it was those five counties land use plans that contributed to the problem.

One solution is for the state to declare the Indian River Lagoon an Area of Critical Concern. This would focus all of the states resources on fixing the lagoon. This option was very successful in saving both the Florida Keys and Apalachicola Bay ecosystems from their septic tank issues.

Hurchalla and the other local officials are opposed to this because it requires them to step up to the plate and face the facts. The sticking point is it will put the state in the drivers seat. Maybe in this case not a bad thing.

J.P. SASSER

Pahokee

Editors note: J.P. Sasser is a former mayor of Pahokee.

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Point of View: Martin County still blaming Fanjuls, Big Sugar for all woes

THIS IS THE house that architect Paul Thiry built, in 1929.

But its also the house that Seattle interior designer Robin Chell has nurtured for the past two generations of homeowners. The first being herself and her husband, David.

David bought the house. Thats how we met (in 1998), she says. David bought a chair from me. And then, oh! and another chair.

Chair-buying courting concluded, the couple married in the backyard in 2001. They then had their way with the Norman-style home in Madison Park, remodeling the kitchen and dining room, opening spaces, adding modern materials (using architect Chris Keyser).

Then, in 2002, the couple moved on to build their own home.

The Chells sold to newlyweds Bonnie and Rob (six hours from first viewing to offer). That couple had fallen for Thirys structural design, Robins subtle blend of modern and traditional (concrete counters, stainless-steel hardware, floors in limestone and wood) and Davids work transforming a plain old hillside out back into tiers of beckoning garden spaces.

When we walked in we knew, is how Bonnie puts it.

Then we put our furniture in, and it didnt look near as good.

Coming from a small condo on Capitol Hill, 1,700 square feet of house seemed cavernous. So Bonnie and Rob bought the Chells living-room grand piano in the deal. But it wasnt enough. They needed more of that Chell magic.

We bought this house because of Robin and David, Bonnie says. You walk in the front and its Robin. You walk out the back door, its David.

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Norman-style Thiry home evolves with respect

Construction Project - Another Day on the Job - Room Addition
Another day on the job. This is a room addition that we built. Hope you enjoy going on another job with me.

By: Okie Cigar and Pipe Smoker

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Construction Project - Another Day on the Job - Room Addition - Video

Our DIY Room Addition (469 sqft)
Slideshow of our room addition: After a family friend took our money and had some of his shady unlicensed dudes build crap that the city made us tear all dow...

By: djvaseline

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Our DIY Room Addition (469 sqft) - Video

Redwood City, CA (PRWEB) March 25, 2014

Room 5, a leading software consulting firm, announced today that Patrick Mahaffey, an experienced software and product development expert, will join the talented Room 5 team as their new Chief Executive Officer. Patrick Mahaffeys knack for finding new ways and solutions to difficult problems, as well as his extensive experience, are valuable assets to the Room 5 team.

Patrick Mahaffeys passion for building high performing teams that deliver extraordinary value to customers is a strong addition to the Room 5 team and to our clients, as they tackle the Internet of Everything.

Patrick Mahaffey studied at University of California, Berkley and is a proud veteran of the United States Navy. Before joining the Room 5 team, he served as the Managing Director for Valens Resource Group.

About Room 5 Room 5, a leader in embedded software consulting, specializes in illuminating solutions that bridge the divide between concept and execution. Room 5 works with the most exciting companies in the areas of consumer electronics, defense, silicon manufacturing, and mobile devices. At Room 5, clients find an excited, talented source of technical expertise willing to work shoulder to shoulder to meet their goals and a true technology partner. Our talented teams unite a variety of disciplines to produce products and technologies that are unique and elegant. Room 5 has development facilities located in Silicon Valley, San Diego and Portland. For more information, visit: http://www.room5.com.

Excerpt from:
Room 5 Strengthens its Team with the Addition of New CEO

A safe room able to hold 600 students and faculty will be added to the first new school in the downtown Oklahoma City area in several decades.

Were still working through whether its going to be above ground or below ground, said Kirk Humphreys, board chairman at John W. Rex Charter Elementary School at N Walker and W Sheridan avenues.

The school is scheduled to be completed by the start of the 2014-15 school year, but timing on the safe room is not yet known, Humphreys said.

Construction began before deadly tornadoes hit central Oklahoma in May. After seeing the importance of having shelter during dangerous weather, school leaders made plans for the addition.

Still in the design phase, the safe room will be a separate structure by the playground. If a redesign of the school was possible, they may have included the safe room inside the building, Humphreys said. Given the schools stage of construction, this was the best alternative to insure students safety.

This $12 million, tuition-free, public charter school is being funded with a combination of MAPS for Kids money, other city funds and private donations, he said. The safe room is going to be paid for strictly with private donations and grants. An official cost of the safe room is yet to be determined.

When the school opens in August, it will offer pre-K through second-grade classes. It will have 280 spots available the first year, and it will add a grade level every year up to the sixth-grade. At that time, the school will hold about 500 students.

Boundary and enrollment

The general attendance boundary for JRCES is NW and NE 13th St. to the north, the Oklahoma River to the south, Lottie Ave to the east and N Western Ave to the west. Any child living in this attendance boundary is considered first priority and will be enrolled if they apply, Humphreys said.

Second priority is children living in the Oklahoma City Public Schools district, third is children living outside the OKCPS district with a parent or guardian working in the JRCES attendance boundary and lastly is everyone else, he said.

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New OKC elementary will add safe room