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Commission splits inspection cost for unrecorded septic and fines property discharging sewage
Summary
After a resident reported an unrecorded septic permit and a separate property was found discharging sewage, the board voted to split the cost of a certified inspection (county share capped at $2,000) and to begin $2,500/day fines for a property that continues to discharge until health confirms remediation.
A buyer who recently purchased a rural DeKalb County parcel told commissioners April 28 that a 2005 septic permit had not been recorded by the county, leaving the system undocumented and the property effectively unsellable.
Health staff told the board a certified septic inspection and soil evaluation would establish whether a system exists and where a replacement could be sited; staff estimated the work at roughly $2,000–$3,500. Commissioners debated whether the county or the property owner should cover that work, noting the paperwork indicated the permit was processed but not recorded. After discussion, the board voted to split the cost of the certified inspection and soil testing, with the county's share capped at $2,000.
Separately, the board addressed a longstanding public‑health complaint at 6064 County Road 55, where staff reported sewage discharging from a private septic system into a roadside ditch despite repeated notices. Health staff said the owner had been given a timeline (10 days for a site plan and 30 days for implementation) and had not completed required remediation. Commissioners voted to begin enforcement immediately: a $2,500‑per‑day fine effective April 29, 2025, until the health department inspects and confirms there is no further sewage discharge (typical remedial steps include installing a holding tank and removing/filling the failed system).
Health staff will notify the owner and proceed with inspection and enforcement procedures; the board asked the health department to follow statutory and ordinance processes and to document next steps. Commissioners noted potential legal and precedent issues when county processes missed documentation in the past, and asked staff to provide a written summary of cases and proposed next steps.
The motions carried on voice vote. The county will log and track inspection costs and enforcement steps through the health department.
