A dirty problem is developing in Marathon.

In the midst of installing a central sewer system, contracting crews all over town have been digging in the city's streets to make room for sewer pipes. As the pipes go in, dirt comes out.

With the dirt piling up in various locations around town, city staffers developed an idea that may make it easier for local property owners to put it to use. That idea entails allowing property owners to use the fill to level or raise lots, without having an active building permit attached to the lot. The idea was presented to the council during Tuesday night's general meeting.

Prospective fill users would still need to get a permit to use the actual dirt, but would no longer need to have an active approved building permit in place before it can be used to level out a lot.

"It is one of the things we think might increase the demand for this material," Interim City Manager Peter Rosasco said.

Council members seemed to be on board.

"I don't think it's a bad idea," Councilman Pete Worthington said, noting that the city still needed to keep an eye on the environmental issues that arise with leveling or raising a lot with fill.

"We would not be waiving any of the permitting requirements," Rosasco said.

For nearly a year the city has been battling with the dirt problem, an issue that has divided the council at times. Residents complained when the city had much of the fill pulled out of the streets stored at a lot that was right on highway U.S. 1.

Worthington, in particular, has been critical of the city's handling of the dirt, believing that more of it could have been sold. The city was able to make one big sale of the dirt early on in the project, but a recent advertisement offering more for sale went unanswered. Although the city retains the right to keep any of the excess fill that is pulled out of the ground, the cost of moving it from one location to another appears to be a hindrance to making a profit on it.

Some of the contracts the city has with sewer installers only allow for one free move of the dirt, which means that unless the city has a destination site immediately ready for it, the dirt would be moved to the contractor's lot, and a cost would be incurred to move it again should a use for it be found.

The city also has the right to turn all of the excess fill over to the contractors, and let them deal with it.

"I don't even want the dirt," said Earl Roth, a project manager with sewer contractor Lanzo Construction. "It's a hassle."

Roth went before the council on Tuesday to ask for a conditional use permit that would allow Lanzo Construction to store dirt on the empty field in front of San Pablo Church. For allowing them to use the lot, the contractor has agreed to install the church's sewer connection for free.

The council approved the request, which will grant the conditional use for one year. The city put some conditions on the request, including a list of activities that need to be followed in order to keep the yard manageable. That included fences and silt screens to surround the dirt pile.