After another discussion on Thursday, Lyon County commissions voted 2-1 to do away with wastewater treatment system reconstruction fees that result from cycle inspections.
The discussion originally took place during Wednesday’s commission meeting following a discussion with Lougene Marsh and Ann Mayo, of the Lyon County Health Department. Commissioner Myron VanGundy raised the issue of doing away with the $395 reconstruction fee that may result following a cycle inspection visit. There is no fee for the cycle inspections, which started in January.
Lyon County Environmental Health has completed 248 cycle inspections to date and of those, two systems have needed reconstruction and were charged the $395 fee.
“If you look at the example yesterday, there are only two of those,” Commissioner Bob Davis said Thursday. Davis added that because of the fee, he knows of six people who have decided to have their systems reconstructed without the assistance of the health department. “It’s not going to make that much difference in their budget.”
VanGundy made the motion on Thursday that eliminated the $395 fee for systems that are found in need of reconstruction. This only applies to cycle inspections. The fee will still be charged for new systems and for property that is being sold.
Davis and VanGundy voted for the motion with Commission Chairman Marshall Miller voting against the motion.
“I contended all along that the lagoon system (issue) would resolve itself through sales,” Davis said. “It’s a process that will eventually work itself through.”
During Wednesday’s commission meeting, Marsh said cutting the fee out would hurt the health department’s budget. The fees were built into the budget to cover the costs incurred in inspections of reconstructed systems.
“Only two of the 48 (failed systems) have resulted in need of a total replacement of a system,” Marsh said. “It’s been a very minimal number.”
Marsh said the same work goes into a reconstructed system as does a new system.
“It is logical that the replacement of a system require the same level fee as a new system,” she said.
Commissioners also discussed a possible amendment to the contract between Lyon County and the Flint Hills Community Health Center. VanGundy said he wanted to add the worth of the building somewhere in the contract. Lyon County allows the health center to stay in the building rent-free. Counselor Michael Halleran said he would not recommend placing this figure in the contract.
“There are no specific dollar amounts mentioned in this contract,” Halleran said.