Board amends Environmental Health rules to align with public health reorganization and address septic use in flood areas

Lauren Baker Newton, environmental health manager, told the board that the proposed amendment to chapter 21 would update department references to reflect state reorganizations (Department of Human Resources → Department of Public Health), add local board-of-health resolutions governing commercial septic use in floodplain areas, and reduce conflicts between county health permitting and engineering reviews.

Baker Newton said the ordinance is used as a secondary enforcement tool and that staff typically rely on education and voluntary compliance first: “We are educators first,” she stated. The proposed language clarifies permit responsibilities for systems that handle high‑strength waste and references two prior board‑of‑health resolutions related to commercial septic permitting in flood zones. Staff told commissioners the change would not alter day‑to‑day permitting for most property owners and described it as largely housekeeping designed to make internal coordination clearer.

The board moved to amend the ordinance, the motion was seconded and the measure passed by voice vote.

Next steps: staff said there would be no immediate new permitting requirements for the public but that clarified language should reduce interdepartmental confusion and provide a local enforcement option if voluntary compliance fails.