The city of Maumee missed the April 1 deadline to submit an annual sewer system report to the Ohio EPA.
In a June 6 letter to Maumee Administrator Patrick Burtch, the state environmental protection agency said the failure is a violation and urges the city official to submit the report within 30 days of receipt of the letter or face administrative or legal penalties.
Nancy Gagnet, Maumee spokesman, said the city received a letter from the EPA on Friday and “will submit the report within the 30-day compliance window provided.”
The annual report is a requirement for the city’s “small municipal separate storm sewer system general permit,” according to the letter.
“The City of Maumee remains in compliance with the NPDES Small MS4 General Storm Water Permit,” Ms. Gagnet said in a statement. “However, due to competing priorities, city staff have scheduled submission of the annual statistical report for early next week.”
“It is important to note that the Small MS4 General Storm Water Annual Report pertains specifically to pre- and post-construction storm water management protocols,” Ms. Gagnet said in the statement. “It is separate from the City’s ongoing efforts with the Ohio EPA to address sanitary sewer overflow remediation.”
About 25 years ago, one or more city of Maumee employees began to illegally divert sewage-contaminated water into the city’s namesake river. The dumping continued for 20 years, over which time about 3 billion gallons of sewage was discharged.
The EPA fined the city $30,000 and ordered Maumee to take measures to make sure that sanitary sewage could not enter the storm sewer system.
As the costs of fixing Maumee’s outdated sewer system hit nine-digit numbers, citizens groups formed to oppose the city government’s policies, practices, and personnel.
When Maumee City Council held a nearly two-hour regular meeting Monday, the matter was not on the agenda and, though mentioned in passing, was not discussed.
“I don’t know if you want me to get into any issues with this other thing about our sewer program, about where we are in terms of ... dealing with the EPA right now, or do you want this to wait until I make a written report next time?” Mr. Burtch asked just before the meeting adjourned.
“I think, yeah, we’d want you to prepare something next time,” Mayor Jim MacDonald replied. “That would be fine.”
“I think, OK, that’d be fine,” Mr. Burtch responded.
Beyond that exchange, the matter wasn’t discussed.
The mayor and all council members with the exception of Councilman Josh Harris attended the nearly two-hour meeting.
“This failure isn’t just a bureaucratic oversight — it’s another blow to already fragile negotiations with the EPA over Maumee’s long-failed infrastructure,” said Dana Johnson, a spokesman of Maumee Matters, a citizens group advocating a recall of Mr. MacDonald and six Maumee council members.
“Why continue creating conflict with regulators we’re trying to work with? This isn’t an isolated incident —it’s part of a disturbing pattern of disorganization, misleading communication, and poor planning that’s putting our city and its residents at risk,” Mr. Johnson said in a statement.
Along with Mr. MacDonald, councilmen Gabe Barrow, Jon Fiscus, Scott Noonan, Margo Puffenberger, Ted Kurt, and Mr. Harris are targeted by the Sept. 9 recall effort.