WASHINGTON CO. COMMISSIONERS VOTE 3-2 AGAINST ADOPTING ON-SITE SEWAGE FACILITY REGULATIONS

  

Washington County Commissioners were split today (Tuesday) in opposition to a set of updated regulations for on-site sewage facilities (OSSF) within the county.

The court voted 3-2 against the order, with Commissioners Kirk Hanath, Misti Hartstack Corn and Dustin Majewski opposing.  Commissioner Candice Bullock and County Judge John Durrenberger voted in favor.

Discussion mostly revolved around proposed rules that would restrict the ability of septic system installers to submit new applications should they fail two inspections during a 12-month period, starting with a three-month block on new applications for the first infraction and escalating up to a 12-month suspension of new applications for three or more infractions. 

During a public hearing, Creig Corlis, the owner of Distinguished Construction LLC, expressed concern that this could disproportionately affect or even be “weaponized” against newer septic installers who have not accumulated much experience.

County Engineer Wesley Stolz said the county has a positive working relationship with its septic installers and described this route as the “nuclear option”, adding that the process would not only go through the inspector, but also Engineering and Development Services, Environmental Health, and potentially the commissioners court if the installer chose to appeal.  Additionally, Environmental Health Director Mark Marzahn said that while the installer would not be able to submit new applications during the suspension period, they could finish out applications that have already been submitted.

Stolz and Marzahn said that over the past 25 years, the county has had 18 failed inspections, including eight over the past five years.  Commissioner Hanath noted that one company frequently tagged with failed inspections during that timeframe is no longer in business, saying that the free market solved the situation on its own and that he did not feel these policies are necessary right now. 

Judge Durrenberger disagreed, saying someone doing poor work could continue to do that elsewhere if the only punishment they faced was having to pay a re-inspection fee.  Commissioner Bullock said she views this as a “quality control measure” to provide the county some level of authority, especially as it continues to see new development.

While the updates to the sewage facility regulations were denied, commissioners did approve a revised fee schedule for Environmental Health as it pertains to OSSF permit applications.  Stolz said there were few changes, including removing a line about failed inspections and taking out a reference to the specific credit/debit card vendor used so that the fee schedule would not have to be altered if the county were to change vendors.

In other business, commissioners:

• Approved the purchase of an ambulance module from Frazer, Inc. in the amount of $285,189.
• Authorized the Engineering and Development Services Department to advertise for sealed bids for seal coating services.  Bids will be due May 15^th at 10 a.m. in the county clerk’s office and reviewed by commissioners on May 27^th at 9 a.m.  Stolz said this contract would be used as a backup plan in case unforeseen circumstances arise for EDS, such as when the spring storms last year led to much more time cleaning up debris instead of working on roads.
• Approved an amendment to the professional services agreement between the county and PlanNorth, LLC for the Washington County Expo and other county sites, in the amount of $37,000.
• Rescinded the termination notice dated October 7, 2024 and sent to Central Square, previously known as Zuercher, for software maintenance.  After that, commissioners approved an extension amendment to the software license and service agreement.
• Approved a transition agreement with the Texas Association of Counties Health and Employee Benefits Pool (TAC HEBP) for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) administration services.
• Approved pay rate for jail lieutenant.  Lieutenant David Blakey is being transferred from patrol lieutenant to jail lieutenant.  While his pay rate is not changing, it is 8 percent over the midpoint of the range for the position, thus requiring commissioners court approval.
• Approved renewal bonds for Daniel Gaskamp and Floyd Mathis, reserve sheriff deputies.
• Read a proclamation declaring April 13-19 as Public Safety Telecommunications Week.