The Brown County Commissioners have extended the comment period on the proposed new septic system ordinance until Monday, May 3.
The ordinance passed a first reading last month, with the second reading and vote set to happen Wednesday, May 5 at 2 p.m. on Zoom.
A public hearing took place April 26 on Zoom and comments for or against continue to be accepted until this Monday. They can be emailed to <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected]</a>, mailed to Brown County Commissioners, P.O. Box 151, Nashville, IN 47448; or brought to the County Office Building, Salmon Room, 201 Locust Lane, Nashville, IN 47448.
The first reading on April 21 was the first step toward getting it passed and replacing the current ordinance, in place since 1997. Approving it on first reading also allowed for the public hearing to happen.
This ordinance has been revised over the past three years by a volunteer citizen committee.
Commissioners President Jerry Pittman voted against approving this version on first reading. He said he was not favor of it because he does not believe it is necessary and the state’s code for septic systems would be enough for Brown County.
"It will increase our liability as a governmental agency. The more we put on there the state does not require, the more we open up ourselves to liability," Pittman said, noting that Jackson County follows the state code with added provisions in an ordinance for licensing and enforcement.
The proposed ordinance has 13 different articles: permits; installation; repair or replacement of systems; technology; installation inspections; registration for septic contractors; inspections related to change of use; tourist homes and bed and breakfasts; possible violation notices; penalties; administrative appeal; validity and ordinance in force.
The entire ordinance <a href="http://www.bcdemocrat.com/2021/04/27/legal-notices-for-week-of-april-27/">can be read here</a>.
Around 25 people attended the April 26 hearing on Zoom. At the hearing, commissioner Diana Biddle said that if the commissioners get many more comments between then and May 3, the commissioners have the ability to table the reading until their second meeting in May, which would be May 19, so they have time to read and process all of them.
"If we just have the five comments that we’ve got right now, then I would be prepared to vote on Wednesday (May 3)," Biddle said Monday.
Most Brown County residents are affected by the septic ordinance because most homes in Brown County use septic systems to dispose of waste. Only three areas have sewers: Nashville, Gnaw Bone and Helmsburg.
The state already has a lengthy set of rules, known as Rule 410, which are the minimum standards with which all county health departments must comply. But counties are allowed to make their own rules for waste disposal and septic system installation and use as long as counties’ standards are not less strict than the state’s.
