Commission RCHD hold hearing over sewer ordinance

The Randolph County Commission held a public hearing Tuesday, the first of three, to hear comments and answer questions regarding additions to the Randolph County on-site Wastewater Treatment Systems Ordinance.

The draft of the ordinance states the county commissions and the county health boards have jurisdiction over the formation of this type of ordinance. Present at the hearing was Ross McKinstry, administrator of the Randolph County Health Department, and Janet Murray, environmental health specialist.

The proposed ordinance will update one approved by the commission in 2005. While still in draft form, the primary differences are in the first point and concern inspections. The 2005 ordinance states the ordinance applies to new construction. The updated version states an inspection must be conducted by an inspector/evaluator or the Randolph County Health Department (RCHD) prior to connecting any building to an existing system. If it is determined state regulations are not being met, a new system shall be installed or the existing system brought up to current state construction codes.

The revision also states that prior to sale, all properties not connected to a centralized or municipal sewer system shall be inspected. A report would be provided to the RCHD, the prospective purchaser or realty company and the seller.

One important reason for the modification of the ordinance is to protect homebuyers. When purchasing a home, inspections are routinely done of the structure, plumbing, electrical, even for termites. But the sewage system is not always something that is taken under consideration and can prove to be a costly fix if thee is a non-disclosed problem. An inspection provides potential buyers with information regarding the sewage systems and allows them to make an informed decision when it comes to buying the property.

Murray, who performs evaluations for the health department, said she does evaluations if there are complaints filed which are justified by neighbors experiencing problems.

“If you have a system discharging on a neighbor’s property, you would be responsible,” said Murray.

Murray said septic tanks are not always required. In fact she said it is quite common for people with larger acreages to have systems that discharge onto their own property. She said this is not against code as long as the acreage is large enough to handle it and it is not running onto a neighbor’s property.

The terms inspection and evaluation were used interchangeably in the discussion during the hearing. Murray said an evaluation is what would be required which primarily involves visual inspections. A true inspection, Murray said, involves digging up a system and looking at the sludge. Evaluation typically cost $75 she said.

“Besides protecting buyers,” said susan Carter, presiding commissioner, “We want to protect our county. We want it more beautiful that it is now and we cana’t do that without some sort of regulations.”

The next public hearing regarding the issue will be at 2 p.m., September 2, in the education room of the Randolph County Health Department in Moberly.