By By JOHN EBY / Vigilant/Argus
Felony charges against Dan Bates, superintendent of the Village of Cassopolis Department of Public Works, and his foreman, James Bodie, were dismissed last week, Village Manager Art Sciorra confirmed.
Sciorra attended the hearing in St. Joseph where Berrien County Judge Angela Pasula dropped the more serious charges.
They also face, however, five misdemeanor counts alleging that on that many occasions sewer residue was disposed of at a village dump site instead of at a licensed landfill.
On Feb. 6, 2001, the main power cable burned in half at a sewage lift station. An alarm notified Bates and repairs were made in about 45 minutes. The next day he notified the state of the problem and the amount of spillage while a bypass system was being set up.
Between 8,000 and 12,000 gallons of raw sewage ran into Dowagiac Creek by the Peavine Street lift station in LaGrange Township.
Charges were brought in June.