By DAVE HAMRICK
dhamrick@thecitizennews.com

Fayette County Health Department officials are continuing to work with Chariots of Fire Ministries in hopes of solving the organization's septic tank problems, environmental health director Rick Fehr said this week.

Fehr said Bishop Luther Graham, director of the ministry, has hired soil scientists and engineers to work on the problem, and health officials are expecting a report on the findings soon.

The ministry, which helps homeless people get back on their feet, moved into a home on Ga. Highway 138 early this year. Since then, the ministry has been plagued by problems with its septic system that remain unresolved after the old system was replaced.

Neighbors have complained of sewage leaking out of the system and running down the street, and health officials have ordered the ministry to correct the problem or face having its water turned off.

Graham last month asked the Fayette County Commission to allow him to tap onto Clayton County's sewerage, which is available next to the ministry's property, but commissioners refused, saying the county's policy is to discourage use of sewerage in unincorporated areas, for fear of increasing residential density.

Fehr said officials are hopeful that soil scientists can find a location for a new septic system that will work, but it's likely that even if they do, it will be a smaller system than the ministry needs.

“We may have to limit the number of gallons of usage,” he said.