It is a two-fold problem: the septic system and compliance standards. Recent problems with the septic system at the fire station in Tyrone and the station’s inadequate size for housing increasing numbers of firefighters initially led to a consideration of relocating the station’s septic system to Shamrock Park. But recent soil tests at the park showed that such a move is not possible, leaving the county with the prospect of significantly diminishing on-site water usage or moving up the date to relocate the facility.

Town Manager Chris Venice said the town council recently gave its approval to have the soil at nearby Shamrock Park tested, but those tests have revealed that the soil is not compatible for additional septic drain lines. The fire department had looked at the potential of relocating the fire station because the current location adjacent to the police department no longer fits their needs. That situation was exacerbated by the septic problems, she said.

Commenting Thursday that Shamrock Park could not be utilized for drain fields, interim Public Safety Director Allen McCullough said the fire station’s recent septic failure was part of a larger problem with the station.

“The station was built in the 1970s and is not compliant with a number of standards for housing firefighters,” McCullough said of the facility that was constructed for an all-volunteer force. “Now we have five firefighters stationed there 24/7.”

Long-term plans for replacing the fire station had previously been rolled forward to 2013 due to budgetary considerations, McCullough said. The current situation with the septic system adds to the state advisory that gives Fayette County 18 months to work on gearing up a long-term solution that addresses standards relating to housing firefighters.

“We’ll be looking for guidance from the county commission, hopefully at the workshop in April,” McCullough said of the department’s plan to survey the options, including those for relocating the station, and present options to commissioners.

McCullough said several immediate steps are being taken to decrease the amount of water usage at the Tyrone station. Those include installing low-flow toilets and waterless urinals, discontinuing use of the on-site washer and dryer and having laundry done at other fire stations. The department is also considering capping off the leach field system and pumping the system on a weekly basis.

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