Rainsville facility supervisor arrested, suspended from job after wastewater winery found

Rainsville Mayor Roger Lingerfelt said Friday the supervisor of the wastewater treatment facility where DeKalb County investigators found an unlicensed winery Thursday has been suspended without pay, pending the outcome of the investigation.

According to the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office, Allen Maurice Stiefel, 62, of Fyffe, was arrested Friday and charged with unlawful possession of an illegally manufactured alcoholic beverage, which is a misdemeanor, and use of official position for personal gain, a Class B felony.

Lingerfelt said he did not expect any more suspensions, and he expressed shock at the discovery at the facility. He said believed the supervisor had worked there close to 15 years, and had been an excellent employee with no prior problems.

The strange story came to light Thursday evening, when DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden revealed narcotics agents and investigators, responding to an anonymous tip, went to the Rainsville Wastewater Treatment Plant on Horton Road. The mayor was contacted to get access to the plant, the sheriff said in a press release.

In a press conference Friday, Lingerfelt said he contacted a key holder, and they went to the facility. He said investigators told them about the tip that there was illegal activity going on there.

They went inside, he said, and found the winery — which was unlicensed and therefore illegal. The mayor said the winery seemed to be in a corner of the facility. He said when visiting the plant, "you don't see everything.

"Thing happen like that," Lingerfelt said, even with the best efforts to keep watch over all of a municipalities functions.

Apparently, people don't have to worry that wastewater was being made into wine. The mayor said the winery equipment was separate, and did not involve wastewater treatment equipment.