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Resident tells commissioners septic permit application expired after review delays; county staff to follow up
Summary
During the budget workshop public‑comment period, Bastrop resident Arthur Jaster said a septic installer’s authorization application expired after a year while designs were reviewed, leaving him unable to complete an installation and seeking clarity on extension fees and process.
During the public‑comment portion of a Williamson County budget workshop, Arthur Jaster, who identified himself as a Bastrop resident and a septic installer, told the commissioners his company’s authorization to construct a septic system lapsed after the county returned design reviews and the permit sat open for more than a year.
“My name is Arthur Jaster. I live in Bastrop. I’m a septic installer,” Jaster said. He described a review process that required back‑and‑forth revisions from engineers and designers and said the county’s permit order stated an authorization "shall automatically expire if the OSS is not completed within 1 year from the day of the application." He said the county’s order allows an extension only with a written request before expiration and a fee, but he could not find a posted fee schedule for that extension on the county website.
Jaster told commissioners the back‑and‑forth review cycle—engineering revisions, resubmissions, and county response periods—had taken longer than a year, after which the application was marked expired. He said that practice would force applicants to resubmit plans and pay fees again even where delays arose during the review cycle.
County Judge Bill Gravell said staff would take Jaster’s paperwork and route it to the appropriate department head for follow‑up. “I can assure you that I’m gonna take a picture of this piece of paper, and I’m gonna get it to the right department head that might provide answers in the days ahead,” Gravell said.
The court did not take questions from Jaster during the public comment period but committed to sending the issue to permitting staff for clarification on whether extensions and fee information could be posted or otherwise made more accessible.
Ending The county judge and staff promised follow‑up with the relevant permitting division to clarify extension procedures and any required fees; Jaster said he had already contacted the county by phone and expected a department reply.
