Human Services board approves raising septic improvement-permit fee to full customary rate

The Union County Consolidated Human Services Board voted to raise the county’s environmental health charge for septic improvement permits from 40% to 100% of the customary fee.

Tracy (Speaker 4), who presented the division report, said the change corrects an administrative misreading of the statute that had left the county charging only 40% for private-soil-scientist-submitted improvement permits. She said that charging the full customary fee — currently $400 for a residential application and $500 for certain commercial applications — is permitted by state law and would align the county with surrounding jurisdictions. Tracy estimated the county was leaving about $11,000 in revenue under the 40% practice.

Board members asked about differences between residential and commercial fees, the application and inspection process, and what happens if an applicant cannot pay the full charge. Tracy said the fee applies to the improvement-permit review (the county’s review of a private soil scientist’s submittal) and that applicants who cannot or will not pay would not receive that county service. The board agreed the change was appropriate and approved the fee increase by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The change applies specifically to environmental health improvement-permit reviews tied to on-site septic systems and is intended to reflect the county’s costs for reviewing privately prepared submittals. The executive director and division staff characterized the vote as a statutory-correction and administrative alignment with neighboring counties.