Marathon County committee backs amendments to private onsite wastewater code and $6 annual maintenance charge

Marathon County’s Environmental Resources Committee recommended Sept. 2 that the county amend Chapter 15 of the Marathon County General Code of Ordinances governing private onsite wastewater treatment systems (POWTS) and add a $6 annual maintenance special charge to be placed on property tax bills to fund a POWTS maintenance program. The committee also voted to add the $6 item to the Conservation, Planning & Zoning (CPZ) fee schedule, contingent on county board approval of the ordinance change.

Committee members heard from Shad Harvey, Marathon County land resources manager, who summarized the package of changes as updates to cross-references, clarification language, and a new POWTS special maintenance charge. “We’d suggested moving forward with the $6 fee,” Harvey said during the hearing, noting towns and residents had been asked for input before the public hearing. The proposed ordinance was distributed to townships in July and drew written responses from three town boards.

The proposed fee is intended to fund a county-run maintenance program for POWTS. County Administrator Lance Leonard…