WDEF News 12

Dillon Ash thought owning this building in Copperhill would be a dream come true. This McCaysville native was thrilled to bring business to his old stomping grounds.  "Sales tax revenue," he said about his high-end furniture store.  "We've created 7 efficiency apartments in the building. That's people that are going to eat in the area. That's people that are going to buy groceries in the area."

Now it's a nightmare of seeping sewage.

"We lost most everything in the building," explained Ash.  "The odor, the contaminants in the odor. The upholstery. It's completely destroyed."

Jerry Tidwell is Ash's Attorney.  He visited the store twice and has this description:  "If you can imagine the worst port-a-potty you've ever been in at Riverbend, just imagine a building full of it."

Ash first contacted the city in October when it was only a small leak. January 9th the entire store got flooded with a foot and a half of sewage.

"The city, then after denying it was their problem, came out and cut the road when Mr. Ash wasn't around and apparently took something out, or did something to the blockage," Tidwell said Thursday.  "They claimed they found a piece of lumber, but nobody's ever seen it, and I don't know too many people who flush 2x4s down the commode."

Ash had two separate crews come and snake the lines. They say the block is where the sidewalk meets the street.  Shamrock Septic marked it with a red 'X.'

Ash is fed up.  "We're at the point now that we can no longer afford to continue pumping sewage out of the building. We're a little over $8,000 now," he said about the pumping and cleaning fees.

And the sewage keeps coming. Since fixing the problem involves digging into the street, he needs the city's O-K. So far they haven't gotten it.

"We just want to get in there and fix it ourselves," said Tidwell.  "Stop the blockage and then litigate over the damage and who owes what."

The Copperhill City Mayor was served with papers on Wednesday.  Tidwell hopes a settlement will be reached soon.

Neither the Mayor nor the City Attorney were available for comment.