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Staff warn proposed statewide septic code could impose large costs and erode local control
Summary
Public‑health staff told the committee an active legislative draft that would create a statewide sanitary code could require counties to process thousands of inspections yearly and impose costs estimated between $2.5 million and $10 million countywide; staff recommended resisting the draft or seeking revisions to preserve local time‑of‑sale protections.
County public‑health staff and the county administrator updated the Planning & Policy Committee on a proposed statewide sanitary code that would change inspection and permitting for on‑site septic systems.
Administrator Gibbs introduced Addie Hamley, who said the current draft removes a blanket pumping requirement but still raises major concerns about cost and implementation. Using Ottawa County’s records and the county’s long‑standing time‑of‑sale program, staff estimated the county has about 50,000 on‑site systems; under the draft’s five‑year inspection cycle that would equate to roughly 12,500…
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