THE CLAIM: In a recent campaign mail-out piece, Merritt Carothers, who is running against Paul Lee for Alabama House of Representatives District 86, claims there is a federal and state corruption investigation over the city’s sewer system. Since Lee is a Dothan City Commissioner, Carothers is portraying Lee as a corrupt politician.

SUMMARY: Agents with the Environmental Protection Agency were in Dothan Sept. 23, serving two search warrants at the Little Choctawhatchee and Beaver Creek Wastewater Treatment plants. The agency did not tell officials or employees what they were seeking, but it appears the raid is in connection with a lawsuit filed by the EPA against the city in relation to overflows at Beaver Creek. The litigation has been ongoing for several years and initiated with the Attorney General's office before being overtaken by the EPA.

The city is attempting to transfer the wastewater currently handled by Beaver Creek over to Little Choctawhatchee as part of a $40 million project. Beaver Creek has been cited for many violations from the EPA in regards to the overflows.

ANALYSIS: There is no doubt an investigation is underway at the Little Choctawhatchee and Beaver Creek Wastewater Treatment plants. However, to call it a corruption investigation is going too far. The EPA has not released anything to the public or to city officials in relation to the raid.