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St. Clair County considers 15,000 sq ft lot minimum and personnel-policy changes amid developer concerns
Summary
County attorney and commissioners discussed revising subdivision regulations (including a 15,000 sq ft minimum lot-size proposal), monitoring engineered septic systems and bonding options, and proposed personnel manual changes covering temporary fill‑in assignments, election overtime and worker's-comp follow-up time.
St. Clair County officials used the May 21 work session to press forward on two interconnected policy tracks: revisions to the county's subdivision regulations and updates to the personnel manual.
County Attorney Kurt Walker walked commissioners through proposed updates to Policy 114 that would allow supervisors broader authority to fill an absent employee’s duties until the next regularly scheduled commission meeting, rather than a fixed 10-day limit. Walker also proposed clarifying overtime rules for election-related work so that overtime for election assignments beyond eight hours would be payable if approved by the probate judge or by elected officials/department heads, and he described a policy change allowing employees returning from worker’s-comp claims to use nonpersonal leave for necessary medical follow-ups if properly documented by treating providers.
A larger and longer debate focused on subdivision regulation revisions. Several commissioners said they support restoring or imposing a 15,000-square-foot minimum lot size for unincorporated subdivisions to reduce reliance on engineered ‘‘injection’’ septic systems that may require long-term maintenance and discharge permits. Commissioners raised concerns about who would be responsible when engineered septic systems fail, how discharge permits for multiple engineered systems might hamper future municipal sewer expansions, and whether the county should require cash bonds or other financial guarantees to ensure remediation if privately installed engineered systems fail.
Commissioners discussed grandfathering criteria for projects already underway, asking for documented proof of money expended before applying new rules so that wholly committed developments would not be unfairly penalized. Walker said staff would meet with interested stakeholders (home builders, developers and attorneys) in early June to refine proposed language and return recommendations to the commission.
What happens next: The county attorney will schedule a meeting with builders and counsel to resolve outstanding legal questions, craft grandfathering language and prepare a proposed ordinance; commissioners signaled they prefer a minimum lot-size standard (many favoring 15,000 sq ft) but expect legal drafting and financial guarantee language before adopting formal rules.
