About Us
Jack Spack Septic was founded on April 4, 1948 by Jack Spack Sr. He purchased a used truck and began part time while working full time at the Ypsilanti State Hospital. Over time his business grew and around 1953 was able to quit his full time job and work solely on septic tank maintenance. Eventually he bought a dump truck and back hoe and began to install septic systems, including drain fields and septic tanks.
In the early 1960’s Jack purchased a 20 acre parcel and home at 7415 Carpenter Rd., less than a mile away from the original location. He farmed and ran the septic business from that location and eventually maintained three tank trucks with three full time operators. Jack worked the dump truck and backhoe for installations. Jack Spack Septic Tank Service became the largest septic hauler in Washtenaw County while enjoying the reputation of being the most trusted.
Jack Sr. passed away after a brief illness in 1996. The business was left to Jack Spack Jr., who liked working the industry but did not like being a business owner and dealing with all the associated headaches. In December of 2006, Jack Spack Septic Tank Service, Inc. was sold to Jack’s sister, Victoria (Spack) Relitz.
Jack Jr.’s years of solid experience working with Jack Sr. make him a key component to the company and its future. Jack, as a certified inspector, performs the well and septic inspections required at the time of sale in Washtenaw County, performs all the septic system troubleshooting for the company, finds the tanks when our other guys can’t, and generally is the source of information for the history of the company, its vendors and customers. Jack keeps up his education by attending hours and hours of seminars and training programs.
Robert LaBelle is our high seniority driver, having worked for Jack Spack Septic since 1992. Rob was trained by and worked for Jack Sr. and is a very hard working employee who has often been referred to a “human backhoe” because he can turn a lot of dirt in a hurry.
Kevin Stuebben, our second full time driver, has been with the company for 4 years. Kevin balances working full-time with his wife, Stacy, who works full-time as a nurse, and their two young boys and a little girl. They recently purchased their first home so Kevin’s time is precious.
Brad Farmer is our third full time driver. Brad has previous experience as a fireman and a machinist so he had a lot to learn about the septic industry. Brad has proven to be a quick study and has learned enough to hold his own. Brad hates the digging required to find tank lids so he is the perfect compliment to our “human back hoe.”
We also have two part-time drivers, Mike Schroeder, Kevin’s father-in-law, and Rodney Schroeder, his brother. Both Mike and Rodney are long-time family friends and schoolmates of Jack Jr.
Theresa Chie, (Terrie) is our office manager. She handles all day to day activities of the business, schedules appointment and dispatches trucks. Terrie recently and successfully completed a software upgrade for our 15,000 customer data base without a glitch. (Great Job Terrie!) Terrie is a tremendous asset to our company.
Vicky Relitz, as President, works in a support and final decision-making role. She makes the runs to the post office, bank, and for office supplies. She maintains the office and grounds and makes sure the trucks are clean to her standards. She oversees the entire operation for the level of integrity and cleanliness established by her father. Vicky also approves the payments and signs all the checks.
Our most recent staff addition is our “watch cat,” Pocus. Pocus came to our office when our new son-in-law proved to be too allergic to have two cats in the apartment. Pocus has proven to be very proficient at demanding attention by laying on your keyboard, sweeping checks on the floor with her tail and drinking out of everyone’s glass. (CAUTION: Don’t pick her up, she may bite!)
The facility at 7415 Carpenter Rd. is owned by Jack Sr.’s three children, Saundra, Vicky and Jack, Jr. A part of the facility is the house where the three children grew up. Vicky and her husband, Duane live there and have ready access to the business facilities.
New Activity
We are proud to announce that we have recently applied and been granted a permit to participate in the Adopt-A-Highway program. We have committed to clean a two mile stretch of Carpenter Road from Textile south to Bemis. Three times a year we will be organizing trash pick up along this stretch of road. The group name is “Friends of Jack Spack Sr.” and we hope to launch this into a charitable fundraiser in Jack Sr.’s honor. We will post pictures and stories in the spring when we have our first campaign.
Also, Jack Spack Services is now sponsoring wheel chair manufacturing for the non-profit group, P.E.T. This is a marvelous Christian organization that provides durable wheel chairs for those with little or no mobility. The wheel chairs are made with treated wood and wheelbarrow tires to withstand the abuse of back roads in third world countries. Check out www.giftofmobility.org to learn more.
Vehicles
- 2003 International 7400 54,000 gvw – w /3000 gallon tank w/Moro pump. Tank custom designed and manufactured to Spack specifications and fabricated locally by a friend of the family, Mel Patton.
- 1999 international 4900 54,000 gvw – w /3000 gallon tank w/Moro pump. Tank custom designed and manufactured to Spack specifications and fabricated locally by a friend of the family, Mel Patton.
- 1988 international, F1954 54,000 gvw – w /3000 gallon tank w/Moro pump. Tank custom designed and manufactured to Spack specifications and fabricated locally by a friend of the family, Mel Patton.
Service Vehicles
- 2003 Ford F-150
- 2007 F-150