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Council tables ordinance to prohibit new septic systems inside Lennox as members seek cost and inspection details
Summary
Council postponed consideration of ordinance 6-66, which would prohibit new septic systems inside city limits, after members raised questions about replacement costs for property owners, inspection thresholds, and possible assistance programs.
The Lennox City Council tabled ordinance 6-66, a proposed update to the septic-system ordinance that would no longer permit new on-site septic systems within the city limits while allowing existing systems to continue to their service life if kept in good condition.
Staff said the change is intended to modernize the ordinance and encourage orderly development as sewer becomes available; members expressed concern about the financial impact on property owners who might have to replace or connect to sewer later. One council member asked whether some property owners could face a large outlay compared with continuing with an on-site system. "I'm a little wary of, like, I don't know what the difference is in cost ... if you have to replace your septic tank and it's $20 and then you have to hook on to ours and it's $500," a council member said, asking staff to estimate costs in those situations.
Council asked staff to gather estimates of connection costs and to clarify who determines whether an existing system is "in good condition" and how inspections would be handled. Staff noted the city has inspection authority and could consider options such as special assessments, phased assistance, or favorable financing, but that offering assistance would be a council decision.
After discussion the council voted to table the ordinance to allow staff time to collect cost estimates and refine definitions and cross-references in the proposed ordinance.
