Resident urges county help for failing septic systems on Ruby Drive; commissioners agree to explore grants and hold work session

A long-time Ruby Drive resident told Jones County commissioners on March 18 that several households on her street face recurring septic-system failures and asked the county to investigate funding or technical solutions.

Pearl Solomon, who said she has lived on Ruby Drive for 56 years, told commissioners she recently received an $18,000 estimate to repair her septic system and that multiple neighbors suffer similar problems. "It is a health and sanitation issue," Solomon said. "There are homes being abandoned because they cannot be able to solve the problem."

Solomon asked the commission to explore funding sources, including federal and state grants, and suggested tapping nearby municipal sewer if feasible. Commissioners recommended staff investigate grant programs and suggested a work session or meeting with residents and county engineers to scope the issue. One commissioner recommended pulling together available grant information and the regional commission that would typically administer certain infrastructure grants.

County staff said grant-based funding flows through complex channels and can be slow; commissioners asked staff to identify immediate options as well as longer-term grant opportunities. Staff also said they had pulled permit lists and would compare permits to the tax system records as part of the assessors—follow-up work; commissioners discussed combining engineering analysis and funding options into a focused work session.

There was no formal appropriation at the meeting; commissioners pledged to pursue options and to schedule a follow-up work session and outreach to affected residents.