PORT TOWNSEND — After a tense, stormy session last week on controversial on-site septic system regulations, Jefferson County Public Health officials are regrouping.
There are plans for a larger venue sometime in February to conduct a new county Board of Health hearing.
A public hearing was begun in a Health Department conference room on Thursday, but was postponed until a larger venue could be found after the room was packed with concerned members of the public.
The regulations are opposed by some concerned about the additional fees attached to them for monitoring septic systems under state regulations that became effective July 1.
For some, the cost of monitoring privately owned septic systems could go from $50 per visit to $200.
County Public Health Director Jean Baldwin said a hearing time is being considered for early February.
She said two larger hearing locations are being considered — Fort Worden State Park Commons and the Chimacum High School auditorium.
“We will really try to hear people’s comments,” Baldwin said.
Members of the Board of Health took a lashing from the standing-room-only crowd that packed into the Health Department conference room on Thursday.
Baldwin said she now realizes that she should not have scheduled the hearing for the conference room, which was cleared of chairs to allow a legal room capacity of 92.
Although only 78 showed up for the hearing, many were upset about having to stand without chairs.
“That was a mistake on my part, to get people in so they could be heard,” Baldwin said.
