Public works seeks rule to require county facilities within 300 feet to connect to public water and sewer

James Ritter, deputy director of enterprise funds for the Department of Public Works, presented a draft text amendment to the Water and Sewer chapter of the comprehensive plan that would require county‑owned facilities located within 300 feet of existing public water or sewer lines to connect to those systems. Ritter said the change would promote environmental protection, reduce reliance on septic systems and wells, and improve efficiency of service delivery.

"The Department of Public Works is proposing a text amendment to the water and sewer and comprehensive plan to require that all county owned facilities located within 300 feet, public water and sewer lines connect to the system," Ritter said. Commissioners asked whether any existing facilities would be affected (staff said none currently) and whether nonpotable irrigation wells would be required to close; Ritter replied irrigation wells would not be required to convert to potable service and staff agreed clarifying verbiage could be added. The commission moved to direct staff to send the amendment to agencies for review, add the suggested exemption language for irrigation wells, and schedule a public hearing for May 21, 2025; the motion passed 7‑0.

Staff said capacity exists to support connections and that the amendment would apply to future and currently unconnected county facilities that fall within the 300‑foot threshold. The motion does not itself change the plan; it directs staff to circulate the amendment for agency comment and proceed toward a public hearing.