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Dolores County commissioners authorize staff to send proposed septic regulation to state for review
Summary
County staff told commissioners the draft of Regulation 43 — the state on-site wastewater (septic) rule the county readopts every four years — mirrors the state's proposal; the board authorized staff to submit the county draft for state review and, if approved, to set a public hearing for formal adoption.
Dolores County commissioners on March 2 authorized county staff to submit the county's draft of Regulation 43, governing on-site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS), to the state for review and to schedule a public hearing if the state signs off.
A county staff member told the board that Regulation 43, which the state revises roughly every four years, covers where septic systems may be placed, size limits and other details. The staff member said the county's proposed adoption "adopts Regulation 43 in its entirety" and noted that Julie Kybo reviewed state meetings and the proposed changes. "We're really not changing anything," the staff member said, adding that the county must readopt the regulation to remain compliant.
The staff member asked the board to "go ahead and send those up to the state" so state reviewers can confirm the county's version. County staff member Dennis was directed to transmit the draft; a commissioner moved the submission and the board agreed to proceed. If the state approves, the staff member said officials will schedule a public hearing for formal local adoption.
The action is administrative: it sends the draft to the state for review rather than completing final adoption. The board took several routine votes earlier in the meeting to approve the agenda, expenditures and minutes from Feb. 2, 9, 17 and 23, 2026. The commissioners temporarily closed the regular meeting to meet as the board of health to handle the OWTS item and then returned to the regular session; the board recessed to wait for a member to arrive.
What happens next: County staff will submit the draft to state reviewers and, if the state indicates the county's adoption is acceptable, the board will publish and hold a public hearing before formally adopting Regulation 43.
