Minutes - 03-29-2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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3. Wastewater Treatment Management Program Expansion Proposal Health Director Rosie Summers said that this issue was brought back at the Board's request. She said that the funding scenarios were provided in appendix 1 in the agenda packet. These were the scenarios that were presented at a work session a year ago and nothing new has been added. She reminded the Board that the intention was to start this in year one with an education plan for homeowners, businesses, septic installers, banks, etc. on the project itself and developing maintenance modules for septic system owners. The emphasis in the first two years is heavy education. In the second year, a GIS database will be established so that the systems can be mapped. The first year will also be used to establish grants. Commissioner Brown said that this goes back two and a half years. She thinks this is a good thing to do and would like to go ahead with this and stay closely involved with this sensitive public issue that could be misinterpreted very quickly. Commissioner Gordon said that she really appreciated all the work that was done on this. She thinks that the reason to do it is to protect water quality. One of her concerns is that there is some distance between what is being done at the outset and establishing good water quality. She questioned the amount of education that homeowners actually need. She said that it seemed straightforward and afull-time educator was not needed. Rosie Summers explained that there were some educational materials that have been developed, but most of it is not of very high quality and does not lead anywhere. There is not a package or program, but small pieces. The concept here is that there is a series of modules that would be developed that homeowners could take and learn about their septic systems. Commissioner Halkiotis and Chair Carey gave arguments that some people with septic systems needed same education about them. Commissioner Jacobs pointed out that some of the education would be letting people know that what is done on their property could affect the environment. He would rather be cautious and educate the people before anyone comes on their property for an inspection. He feels the County should seek grant funding from C}WASA, Hillsborough, C)range-Alamance, Mebane, and Durham since this effort would be helping to protect their water supplies. Rosie Summers said that the staff was asked to look at grant funding. Commissioner Jacobs said that he would like to approach the utilities that would benefit from Orange County's effort. Chair Carey said that this ties the burden closer to the beneficiary. Commissioner Jacobs asked why the health educator would not be atime-limited position. Rosie Summers said that the staff is asking that the health educator position be funded out of the County general fund, so it would be a permanent full-time position. The staff sees this as an ongoing, educational need. She said that there are people moving into this area all the time and there are a lot of aspects of this. Moses Carey stated that it was 10:00. A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Halkiotis to make Evelyn Cecil the temporary acting recorder for this meeting. VOTE: UNANIMOUS Commissioner Halkiotis said that he thinks the education is critically important and it is going to take a couple of years for people to comprehend what is going an. Commissioner Brown thinks the program should be reviewed after the first year and a committee should stay involved with the person who is hired as the health educator. She said that the GIS database should be examined in the second year. Commissioner Jacobs said that there was very little data in North Carolina on septic systems and how successful they are. Rosie Summers said that this program would also be building a solid database that tracks the performance of systems by location. She said that the health educator could be hired out, but having an internal database would be very valuable. Commissioner Gordon thinks that this is a good idea philosophically, but she wonders about how the program would be evaluated. John Link said that there would be an ongoing evolution of the education. He knows how to take care of his septic tank and there are a couple of things that can be done in terms of getting feedback. He suggested sending a self-addressed post card to the citizens. The Board agreed that Rosie Summers would come back with some more specific recommendations for the first year of the Wastewater Treatment Management Program.