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Commissioners approve onsite wastewater management district ordinance to aid properties without working septic systems
Summary
Floyd County approved FCO 2025-16 to form an Onsite Wastewater Management District after public testimony that a home could not sell because it lacked a working septic system; commissioners also approved the related public-notice FCR 2025-14.
President Al Knable opened discussion and the board heard from public attorney Steve Lohmeyer, who said a house in an estate could not be sold because it lacks a working septic system. "The house can not be sold because it doesn't have a working septic system," Lohmeyer said, urging commissioners to approve residential onsite disposal options.
Anthony Lieber of the Floyd County Health Department explained a 2023 amendment to Indiana law allowing limited residential use of NPDES residential discharging systems when properties belong to a formally established wastewater management district. Lieber described the district as a prerequisite under state law for those discharging systems and said the systems are considered a residential rescue option only after other remedies are exhausted.
Commissioner Jason Sharp moved to approve FCO 2025-16 Establishing Onsite Wastewater Management District; Commissioner Frank Loop seconded, and the motion passed unanimously. The board also voted to approve FCR 2025-14, a notice of septic district advertisement, by unanimous vote. Attorney Rick Fox formally tendered the decision of hearing officer Scott Waters to the commissioners as part of the record.
Next steps: the ordinance creates the administrative framework to include properties in a district and to permit certain residential discharging systems under the state code amendment. The transcript did not specify implementation timelines or the number of properties affected.
