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Fighting sewer discharges with “flaming bags of poo,” sewage dispute between cities escalates

Matthew Herbert via TwitterLAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Lawrence city commissioner vented about leaving “flaming bags of poo” in Topeka after the city’s third recent release of raw sewage.

Matthew Herbert says he had a “little tirade” on Facebook after finding out that Topeka spilled 55,000 gallons of raw sewage into the Kansas River.  Topeka also released sewage into the river in April and again earlier this month. Topeka’s sewage releases head downstream toward Lawrence.

Herbert said in a letter to Topeka on Facebook that he’d leave the excrement-filled bags “on your city steps” until the city solves its sewage issues.

Herbert said Wednesday his remarks were tongue-in-cheek, and he’s aware the releases were within state limits. He says he has no intention of leaving flaming bags of anything in Topeka.

In a follow-up Tweet, the city commissioner offered this explanation:  “It seems I caused chaos today. I take my job as commissioner VERY seriously but sadly it took comedy to draw attention to a very real issue.”

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