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Resident warns septic replacements could saddle fire victims with large out‑of‑pocket costs
Summary
Public commenter Wendy Kearns urged the county to check with the health department about septic‑system requirements for homes damaged by recent fires, saying replacements cost $12,000–$30,000 and may not be covered by standard homeowners insurance unless a change‑in‑code endorsement applies.
During public comment at the July 28 meeting, Wendy Kearns told commissioners about her experience replacing a settled septic tank that cost roughly $12,000 and warned that many local systems could be 25–40 years old. She said county health officials may declare older systems noncompliant after fire damage and that most homeowners insurance policies she contacted would not cover septic replacements unless a change‑in‑code endorsement applies.
Kearns asked the board to reach out to the county health department to assess whether septic replacement requirements could become a barrier to rebuilding for fire victims and urged clarity on whether federal or state disaster programs will cover those costs. The chair and other commissioners acknowledged the concern, said county staff are continuing to pursue federal reimbursement for fire response and recovery costs, and committed to relay further information to the community as assessments continue.
