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Hocking County commissioners require owner to pay inspection for private sewer line
Summary
The Hocking County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously July 3 to require the property owner to pay for inspection and engineer sign-off on a private sewer line project, after a presentation from the property owner and county engineer recommendations.
Hocking County commissioners voted unanimously on July 3, 2025, to require the property owner to pay for an inspection and engineer sign-off on a private sewer line project tied to development work on Bradford Drive.
The vote followed a presentation to the board by Mister Wagors, who told commissioners he had been working with the county engineer and recommended a formal inspection before construction proceeds. "He thought the sewer line should be inspected, which I agree with wholeheartedly," Wagors said, adding that an inspection and documentation would ensure the system meets county standards and would make the system marketable if it later becomes a public utility.
County staff and the county engineer, referenced in the meeting as Bill Shaw, had recommended inspection and engineer sign-off. Commissioners discussed who should pay for the inspection; the motion the board approved specified that the inspection costs would be paid by the property owner and that engineer sign-off would be required prior to county acceptance.
Commissioners recorded a roll call on the motion: Commissioner Andrew Davidson, yes; Commissioner Justin Umbrell, yes; Commissioner Michael, yes. The motion passed unanimously.
Why it matters: requiring owner-paid inspection and engineer sign-off ensures the new line meets county and EPA standards before the county considers taking ownership, limiting the county's upfront cost and liability while preserving options if the system later converts to a public utility.
During the discussion Wagors said the initial sewer installation elsewhere in the development was "all in according to the code and EPA approved," and that he wanted the new line treated the same way so the county would have "a marketable piece of real estate to sell" if it chose to take the system over.
Commissioners did not adopt additional terms beyond engineer sign-off and owner-paid inspection at the meeting; they directed staff to document the inspection requirement and move forward with the permitting/inspection steps.
No further deadlines or payment amounts were specified at the meeting.
