Thursday, May 31, 2007
State lawmakers are likely to change septic regulations in a couple of weeks.
By ED RUNYAN
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN — Members of the Home Builders/Remodelers Association of the Mahoning Valley say the process of getting approvals for new and updated septic systems in Trumbull County has become not only expensive but also confusing and time consuming.
They attended a county commissioners’ meeting Wednesday to ask that county officials would reconvene the planning and engineering subcommittee of the Blueprint Trumbull County committee to help streamline the process.
The Blueprint Trumbull County committee and its subcommittees, headed by the county planning commission, met numerous times in late 2006 and early 2007 to address the county’s septic and sewage problems.
Paul Dieter of PMD Builders, vice president of the HBA, said he thinks some people with a desire to build a new home are taking their business outside of the county because of the difficulty in getting approval for septic systems.
A plan is needed
Dieter and others said getting a permit from the Trumbull County Health Department has become too difficult because each project requires professional engineering and a lengthy review process.
They asked that county officials provide a standardized package of septic plans that can fit most of the situations a homeowner would encounter.
The county sanitary engineer’s office provides such plans for installation of waterlines or sewer lines, for instance, so why not for septic systems, they said.
Gary Newbrough, sanitary engineer, said employees working for him have created such plans for his department but his workers lack the expertise to create plans dealing with septic systems. Newbrough suggested that the health department hire a consultant to create the plans.
Dr. James Enyeart, county health commissioner, said the HBA has not brought their concerns to him personally, and he would encourage them to do so.
High costs
John Pierko, MS Consultants vice president of environmental services, said he is asked to do the engineering for septic systems and avoids such jobs because they can take six months to complete and cost a homeowner as much as $4,000 — an amount he thinks is way too high.
HBA member Bruce Lev, president of Titan Construction, added that confusion in the marketplace because of the changes in septic regulations that went into effect Jan. 1, 2007, has caused people to overpay for services.
Terry Abrams, executive director of the HBA, said Columbus HBA officials monitoring the Ohio Legislature predict that modifications to the septic regulations are coming soon.
The House of Representatives has approved legislation rescinding the new Ohio Department of Health regulations. Within a couple of weeks, the House and Senate will likely reach a compromise and modify the regulations in some way, Abrams said.
runyan@vindy.com