Valley County Board of Health approves compliance order for 5250 East Side Highway and signs off on septic license, foodborne procedure

The Valley County Board of Health voted April 9 to issue a compliance order for the property at 5250 East Side Highway requiring that buildings without an approved wastewater permit not be occupied until they are connected to an approved system.

The board also unanimously approved a septic/cesspool/privy pumping license application for a contractor doing work in the region and accepted a foodborne-illness investigation procedure, with staff to correct an email address on the signature page before finalizing the document.

The compliance order was prompted by repeated delays in securing a sanitary connection for the Reeves property. Board members said the property owner has had more than a year to obtain a sewer agreement with the Town of Stevensville and that continued informal arrangements were delaying enforcement. The motion approved by the board directs staff to issue the compliance order and forward it to the county attorney for processing; the order bars occupancy of any building that is not permitted through Ravalli County or the Stevensville wastewater system. The board noted that caretaking activity (feeding animals, tending horses) and daytime maintenance access to care for animals would be allowed but overnight…