Marathon County panel approves amendment to private-sewage ordinance and adds $6 "Poutz" special-maintenance charge

The Environmental Resources Committee on Sept. 2 voted to recommend changes to Chapter 15 (Private Sewage Systems) of the Marathon County General Code of Ordinances and approved a related $6 annual special charge for system maintenance to be added to the Conservation Planning & Zoning (CPZ) fee schedule, pending County Board approval of the ordinance.

Shad Harvey, Marathon County Land Resources Manager, summarized the ordinance amendments during a public hearing and said changes were largely updates to internal references (for example, to separate shoreland/shoreland-wetland/floodplain chapters) and clarifying language to improve code readability. The proposed package also adds a "Poutz" special charge (described in committee materials as a post-maintenance/special assessment added to property tax bills) to fund ongoing maintenance of private sewage systems and associated program costs.

Harvey said staff notified townships and the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) for review. He reported receiving input from three townships: Town of Day (questions), Town of Hall (meeting minutes and chair email not in favor of the Poutz fee), and Town of Knowlton (minutes indicating approval of the textual amendments but concern about the Poutz fee increasing over time). Harvey told the committee staff followed up with the town contacts to answer questions.

Committee members and municipal representatives raised questions about cost burdens to rural homeowners. Marilyn Bennett, a town representative, noted septic replacement and holding tank installation costs can range from about $12,000–$35,000 and hauler pump-outs typically cost $150–$400. Harvey and county staff clarified sanitary permit fees: a holding-tank sanitary permit was cited as $6.50; a mound-system permit base was cited as $500 plus a $250 review fee; after-the-fact permits can be substantially higher.

Lance Leonard, Marathon County administrator, framed the fee as one element of a larger countywide budgeting discussion. Leonard said the $6 charge is expected to generate roughly $125,000 annually and that staff had included that estimate in the proposed 2026 budget; if the committee rejects the fee, Leonard said county leadership would have to identify cuts elsewhere. He also said the fee revenue would be retained within CPZ to deliver the private-sewage maintenance program and would be shown on tax bills as a special charge.

After the public hearing and committee discussion, Supervisor Kroll moved to approve the Chapter 15 amendments and Supervisor Schonborn seconded; committee members voted and the motion carried (the minutes record the motion carried but not unanimously). The committee then approved adding the $6 Poutz special-maintenance charge to the CPZ fee schedule; that motion was moved by Supervisor Kroll and seconded by Supervisor Debre and recorded as carried.

Both the ordinance amendment and the fee schedule addition will be forwarded to the Marathon County Board of Supervisors for final action. Staff recommended that the fee schedule change be made contingent on County Board approval of the Chapter 15 ordinance amendments.