Cistern reveals toxic dump
Used syringes and old documents were found recently when Sheriff Lee Becker and his staff uncovered an abandoned cistern near the courthouse's southeast corner, between the courthouse and Becker's office.
"I assume they're (the syringes) from the county health department and placed here a long time ago," Becker said.
Becker and his workers noticed the ground was caving in around the cistern, creating a liability and possible danger.
County sanitarian David Brazil, in consultation with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, will decide what to do about the cistern.
Options include removal, package and shipping of the items if they are determined to be hazardous, or "fill and crush" if they are not, Brazil said. He added that if the items are from the health department, he knows from checking they were not placed there within the past 15 years, and "they don't look 15 years old to me, but it's guesswork."
KDHE will determine if the materials are hazardous and contact Brazil by Monday.
"They may have to send a person out to look at it," he said.
