Some Wilmer residents up in arms about sewage removal method at new apartments
RITA COOK

WILMER – Some residents in Wilmer are upset about the method the Emoli/Liberty Crossing Apartments is having its sewage removed.

Lorrie McDonald, one of the concerned residents said, “As best we can tell, people started moving in around October – not sure how many residents, my guess there are 20 to 30 rented apartments based on cars seen.”

While it is not confirmed he is the person who issues the Certificate of Occupancy, the city building official/inspector, Troy McCraw would theoretically be the only person who could issue the CO.

McDonald said McCraw told her the Dallas County Fire Marshal issued it – she said she had a letter stating differently.

“The Dallas County Fire Marshall only does fire inspections,” McDonald said. “This never came to a council meeting, so I don’t know who in council was in on the decision, but all I know as best as I can tell is I suspect they [city council] didn’t get told the truth, and a handful gave the OK – if there was more involvement than just McGraw and maybe the city planner Sheri Sefco.”

McCraw did not return calls by press time for a statement.

McDonald said she believed escrow needs to be confirmed before building permits are issued – and situations won’t happen.

“They claim they are handling things with the tanker because Autumn Breeze pulled out of the agreement to put up money in escrow for the sewer,” McDonald explained.

It is not certain who is supplying the tankers to haul the sewage away.

McDonald did add the city ordinances require trucks hauling sewer in city limits to have a city permit and to be inspected by the city.

The trunk dumps on the northeast corner of Beltline and I-45.

The apartment entrance is located on the east side of I-45 just south of Beltline, and is an apartment project that began last year in the city.

McDonald said it is a federal/state funded project thru TDHCA, and is an income-based facility.

“For instance, if you make over $32,400, you can’t live there in a one-bedroom. Originally, Emoli, DISD and another project were all supposed to fund an account for sewer. The Wilmer 4A & 4B put S1.6 million in the ground down the service road to make all this possible,” McDonald said.

At Wilmer Talk on Face-book, there was further discussion about the sewage issue – as well as a new development to see the building of 5,000 homes on 200 acres at Mars and Robert.

McDonald said, “How can anyone trust the city to properly handle anything when they have screwed this project up so badly.”