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Health department updates county on septic permitting, mercury clean-up and shelter challenges
Summary
Lincoln County health staff reported 208 septic permits issued so far this year, an after-action review and removal plan following a recent mercury spill, expanded 0–18 funding for early-childhood services and ongoing animal-shelter capacity and spay/neuter challenges.
Lincoln County Health Department staff briefed commissioners Dec. 10 on environmental, behavioral and public-health work including septic permitting, a mercury-incident after-action review, shelter operations and several small grants.
Environmental health reported 232 septic permit applications received this year and 208 permits issued; 192 were for new systems, 34 were replacements and six were affidavits. Staff said almost all issued permits have been closed and signed, an improvement from prior years, and noted that nearly half of the applications required local review pending DEQ input.
Public-health staff described ongoing work on a mercury-incident after-action review. Staff said contaminated materials from a residence were removed and that county landfills will accept mercury-containing products for temporary storage until a larger shipment is arranged; EPA and the state will oversee the larger handling and disposal. The department said the contaminated structure was removed because remediation costs exceeded replacement and that EPA plans to oversee placement when the new house is delivered.
The department also reported contract renewals and fee-schedule adjustments with DPHHS, renewed licensed-establishment inspection contracts and an expanded 0–5 program now funded at $125,000 per year and expanded to serve ages 0–18. Animal-shelter staff reported current shelter counts, use of fosters and challenges scheduling spay/neuter surgeries; staff said community groups have helped with funding and transport for some animals.
Health staff said they will present proposed policy updates (variance policy and grading policy) and fee-schedule changes to commissioners next month when those items are finalized. Commissioners thanked staff for coordinating with EPA and the community on the mercury response.
