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 occupancy is not.

The septic/cesspool/privy pumping license was filed by a contractor identified in the meeting as representing King's Thrones/Inland Northwest; the board approved the license application and authorized the health officer's signature. Staff said they would obtain the health officer's signature and return the signed form to the applicant. The vote was unanimous.

The board approved an updated foodborne-illness investigation procedure and signature page. A board member noted a mistaken email address on the preliminary signature form; the board approved the procedure with the correction and directed staff to circulate the corrected signature page for signature.

Votes at a glance

- Compliance order, 5250 East Side Highway — Motion carried. Action: issue a compliance order prohibiting occupancy of any building on the property that does not have a permit from Ravalli County or Stevensville wastewater authorities; staff to send order to county attorney for enforcement. (Motion approved, no roll-call tally recorded.)

- Septic/cesspool/privy pumping license, King's Thrones/Inland Northwest — Motion carried. Action: approve application and obtain health officer signature; staff to forward signed form to applicant. (Motion approved, no roll-call tally recorded.)

- Foodborne illness investigation procedure — Motion carried. Action: approve procedure as presented, update incorrect email on signature page, obtain signatures. (Motion approved, no roll-call tally recorded.)

Why it matters

The compliance order affects occupancy rights and sanitation control for a property that board members and staff described as in a sensitive groundwater and ditch area; the order aims to prevent potential discharges to nearby ditches while ownership resolves long-running sewer-connection negotiations. Approving a regional septic pumper license increases contractor options during wildfire-season and other emergency responses; adopting the foodborne investigation procedure keeps the county aligned with its investigative protocol for foodborne outbreaks.

What the board directed staff to do

- Draft and serve the compliance order on the owner of 5250 East Side Highway and forward the order to the county attorney for enforcement. - Obtain the health officer's signature for the approved septic/cesspool/privy pumping license and deliver the signed application to the applicant. - Correct the email on the foodborne-illness signature page and collect signatures.

Context and next steps

Board members said the county has worked with the property owner for more than a year and that the county typically receives last-minute documentation shortly before deadlines; in this case the board set a firmer line and instructed staff to proceed with a formal compliance order. Staff said they will return to the board as needed with enforcement updates.

The license for septic/cesspool/privy cleaning was presented by the applicant and approved to give the Forest Service and Department of Lands an additional resource if local contractors are fully committed during wildland response. The applicant said their disposal operations would return materials to an existing composting facility in Lewiston, Idaho; staff confirmed they would track the signature and return the finalized license to the applicant.

The board approved the foodborne-illness procedure with a corrected signature page and will circulate the finalized document for signatures.

Ending

Staff will draft the compliance order and return with enforcement updates; the health officer's signature and the corrected foodborne-illness signature page will be routed to the applicants and the board, and the board will monitor enforcement outcomes at future meetings.