Commissioners ask staff to review approval of four mound septic systems and discuss comprehensive plan amendment timeline

Kent County commissioners asked staff to investigate how four mound septic systems were approved for a property referred to in the meeting as belonging to "Mr. Hill," and they discussed whether a comprehensive plan amendment will be required before the property can connect to the county sewer line.

One commissioner said Mr. Hill had told him that paperwork showing earlier approvals had been lost and that the approvals were only recently reissued: "Herman told me in the beginning they had the health department had lost the paperwork and that's why he was so upset. ... If that's the case, then then then the mistake was made before that line was put down that road, that sewer line." Another commissioner described the practical consequence: "when you get a Mound system, that gives you the right to hook up to air line. That's what's specifically stated in the in the agreements." The transcript shows commissioners raising questions about whether the property falls within the sewer service area and whether a sewer/water comprehensive-plan amendment would be needed.

A county staff member said they had contacted Robin Pelicano, a Division Chief at the Water and Science Administration of MDE, who told staff that an amendment to the comprehensive plan would be required and that the timing "can take several months, depending on how long it takes the local government to do their portion of the process." The staff member said the local process involves both the commissioners and the planning commission and that the timeline provided by Pelicano "adds up" to the multi-month estimate. Commissioners noted a prior example — a property associated with Anna Reed on Lovers Lane — where the county completed required work more quickly; one commissioner said that case did not wait "6 to 9 months." Nonetheless, multiple speakers said that staff would gather records from the health department and investigate whether an older approval was missed in prior comprehensive-plan updates.

No formal motion or vote was recorded on the matter during the public portion of the meeting. Commissioners asked staff to follow up with the health department (staff referenced contact with "Erica at the health department") and with MDE for timeline details. The discussion emphasized the need to determine whether earlier paperwork for the approvals existed and whether corrective action or an expedited local amendment process would be possible.

The transcript includes several references to local names and files but does not include final determinations about Mr. Hill's right to hook up, a completed comp plan amendment, or a firm schedule beyond the staff commitment to investigate and return with more information.