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Commission gives Groundwater Quality Control Board authority to set well and septic fees
Summary
On third reading the commission amended county code to let the Groundwater Quality Control Board set and update well/septic permit fees; supporters said fees are long overdue and will fund inspections, data upkeep and program operations.
The Shelby County Commission approved an ordinance granting the Shelby County Groundwater Quality Control Board explicit authority to set permit fees tied to the water well and septic program. Supporters said fee schedules have not been updated in years and the program has run at a deficit.
Nyla Jones of Protect Our Aquifer urged passage, saying studies show the aquifer is more vulnerable to contamination than previously believed and the board needs up‑to‑date fee authority and funding to run testing and data management. "Our water source is... a sacred symbol to our community," Jones said during comment.
Health Department director Dr. Michelle Taylor said the board's authority will allow a single, published fee schedule and recommended adding a representative from unincorporated Shelby County to the board because many private wells lie outside municipal boundaries. The ordinance passed, with Commissioner Mills recorded as abstaining.
