PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County Public Health officials have rescheduled a hearing on a controversial program proposed for on-site septic system maintenance and operation program.
The hearing has been set for 5 p.m. Feb. 14 at Chimacum High School auditorium, state Highway 19 at West Valley Road, county Public Health Director Jean Baldwin said Wednesday.
“We’re going to start over,” Baldwin said, adding that the county department will take a “new approach,” to working with the public.
At least one person has complained about the timing of the rescheduled hearing.
“I was stunned to learn that the public hearing had been rescheduled to take place on Valentine’s Day,” said Norm MacLeod.
“I’m sure that my wife and I are not the only couple who had already made reservations for a nice, quiet dinner together on what is normally one of the most romantic evenings of the year.”
The rescheduled hearing will be open to “anyone who needs to talk about on-site septic systems and nonpoint pollution,” Baldwin said.
Information is also available through the Jefferson County Public Health blog at http:/jcph.livejournal.com, Baldwin said.
A county Board of Health hearing on Jan. 17 was postponed after homeowners jammed the Public Health conference room, which was too small for the audience and lacked chairs.
Several homeowners were opposed to the new fees and to county officials having the authority come onto their properties.
County Commissioner John Austin, D-Port Ludlow, who is chairman of the county Board of Health, said the county’s proposal merely follows state statues passed last year.
“It will take a while to put it into place, and I think that folks need to understand that, compared to paying a monthly sewer bill, it will still be relatively inexpensive,” Austin said.
Austin said there are now seven septic system inspectors countywide, with a new one just beginning operation. That could lead to more competitive prices, he said.
County Commissioner David Sullivan, D-Cape George, said he hopes accurate information is delivered to the public.
“We have had some big hearings in the past two years,” Sullivan said.
“We’ve got a record with the clean water district and no-shooting area in incorporating peoples’ feedback into the ordinance. A letter with a good idea can even be considered.”
The trick now is to look at ways to make the program more affordable to septic system owners, he said, and make it one that will not penalize renters because their landlords have passed along the costs.
“We need to look at how it affects low-income people.”
Wayne King, Jefferson County Public Utility District commissioner from Gardiner, said he was concerned that the county was charging too many fees, which could hamper public support.
PUD is getting out for the septic system monitoring business to focus on water service, King said. PUD now serves about 4,000 customers.
King likened the new fees to “a self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
He said he and other PUD officials plan to work closely with the county to work out a solution palatable to homeowners.
“I would like to see exactly the justification for these fees,” he said.
“What money is going to where and what?”
