ALPINE — City of Alpine records obtained by The Big Bend Sentinel show that a local taxidermy shop — which has stated it will close because of the City of Alpine’s mandate that it get a grease trap — show that the business’ attorney claimed the shop was not required to get a trap because it has a septic system.
Howard and April Parsons, who own Hip-O Taxidermy at 2990 E. Highway 90, posted to Facebook on November 7 that they would be closing in December after months of fighting the city over a grease trap. The shop also processes wild game, which the city contends should require a trap to stop fats from going into the wastewater system, potentially blocking pipes. The announcement was a blow to local and visiting hunters who would be left with no local taxidermy or processing.
In a November 14 article, The Sentinel reported that Howard Parsons confirmed he was not hooked up to city water or wastewater — using a well and septic system instead. Robert Rückes, the head of Alpine Building Services for the city, said it didn’t matter, because contractors who empty septic systems for businesses then dump the waste at the city’s water treatment plant, which then would be susceptible to damage from grease.
Parson’s attorney, Katherine Ramos Reiley, wrote the city on August 15 that the city’s code “has been read, misinterpreted and misapplied to our client’s business. As the City is aware, the City has not extended its sanitary sewer system to the area where our client’s business is located. Hip-O does not discharge any waste into the City’s sanitary sewer system, hazardous or otherwise.” Reiley then cites a section of city code speaking to requirements for wastewater service but not mentioning anything about grease traps. However, that code and that of the code requiring traps are both housed in the chapter on Sewer Services, which in its entirety addresses discharges to the sewer system with no mention of septic system discharges or dumping.
Additionally, records show the city checked “manifests” that describe the source of septic tank dumps by contractors into the city’s landfill, and no records exist for Hip-O.
Reiley withdrew from representing Parsons on November 7 in a filing to the municipal court and stated that Parsons will represent himself. Parsons had requested a trial, likely in January, but no date has been set.