County Commission: More study needed on sanitation issue
By Brandy Nance
Thursday, February 15, 2007
After a lengthy discussion during Wednesday’s Lyon County commission study session, commissioners determined that more study is needed of the sanitation code inspection fees issue.
Lougene Marsh and Ann Mayo, of the Lyon County Health Department, came before commissioners Wednesday to discuss the issue. The fee issue has been swirling since early January when county commissioners voted to do away with certain fees relating to construction and reconstruction of sanitation systems in Lyon County.
The motion passed on Jan. 4 reads as follows: “No existing lagoon or septic system shall require a fee for reconstruction or inspection. A sanitary system built for new construction where no system has existed before shall be charged a $395 fee.”
Commissioner Bob Davis said he didn’t realize the motion made eliminated fees associated with real estate sales or change of ownership.
“The language says quite clearly no existing system...” said Counselor Michael Halleran. “That would be the effect of that.”
“I didn’t think that was the way that read,” Davis said.
During the Jan. 4 meeting, the motion passed 2-1 with Commission Chairman Marshall Miller voting against and commissioner Davis and former commissioner Myron VanGundy voting for the motion.
In September, commissioners voted to nix the fees related to cycle inspections. Marsh said the September and January decision has resulted in a nearly 10 percent loss of revenue in the 2007 operating budget for the Environmental Health department.
In a packet given to commissioners earlier this week, Marsh stated the following:
“If you choose not to reverse the changes made to the fee structure ... then I respectfully request that the appropriation for our organization be increased by $18,615 for this fiscal year.”
Halleran said some of the problem stems from lack of information.
“I think of the problem here is that we do not have a delineated and understandable breakdown of the fee schedule,” Halleran said. “It is very confusing to the general public as to when they would be charged a fee and when they wouldn’t.”
Halleran requested that Marsh come back in and present county commissioners with a suggested fee structure.
“Just like any other department in the county does,” Halleran added. “If we want to put this issue to bed and know what construction and re-construction means, I would respectfully request that the board would ask (FHCHC) to give us a proposal as to what they want and then the board can determine what they will get.”
Halleran said if all the issues weren’t discussed in one block, the two groups likely would be back in front of each other again soon.
Marsh agreed to bring in a proposed fee schedule during next week’s commission session. Commissioners likely won’t make a decision on fees tomorrow, Miller said.
“I don’t see us coming to an action item tomorrow,” Miller told Marsh and Mayo. “If you could maybe bring in what you would consider your ideal, maybe there’s a blending effort we can make to keep everybody on the same page.”
Also at Wednesday’s meeting, the commission read Emporia’s 150th birthday proclamation.