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MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />April 27, 2006 <br />Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 1 April 27, <br />2006 <br />ORANGE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT: To enhance the quality of life, <br />promote the health, and preserve the environment for all people in the Orange County community. <br /> <br />THE ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH MET ON April 27, 2006 at the Southern Human <br />Services Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. <br /> <br />BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS PRESENT: Jessica Lee, Chair; Matt Vizithum, Vice-Chair; Sharon <br />Freeland; Chris Harlan; Alan Rimer; Alice White; Moses Carey, Jr.; Jim Stefanadis; DeWana <br />Anderson; Sharon Van Horn <br /> <br />BOARD OF HEALTH MEMBERS ABSENT: Tim Carey, out of town <br /> <br />STAFF PRESENT: Rosemary Summers, Health Director; Wayne Sherman, Personal Health Services <br />Division Director; Ron Holdway, Environmental Health Services Division Director; Anne Miles <br />Cassell, Administrative Assistant; <br /> <br />GUESTS PRESENT: None <br /> <br />I. Welcome and Introductions <br /> <br /> Jessica Lee called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. <br /> <br /> Educational Presentation <br />Septic and Well Approvals from Application to Approval <br /> <br /> Ron Holdway, Environmental Health Services Division Director, gave a PowerPoint presentation <br />explaining the processes involved in approval of septic and well applications. In Orange County <br />approximately 35% of properties are served by septic and well systems. State and local statutes <br />apply to regulation of septic and well systems. <br /> <br /> Field visits and inspections are done throughout the approval and construction process. In <br />response to a question from the Board, Ron explained that Environmental Health does not <br />recommend contractors but does provide a list of approved contractors to the property owner. <br />He also explained that well drillers are licensed at the state level and Environment Health is <br />preempted by law from taking action against well drillers. Alice White questioned whether this <br />was the situation in other states or if it was only in North Carolina. Ron Holdway did not have <br />the answer to that question. Jessica Lee asked if the state had a system in place for complaints <br />against septic or well contractors. Ron replied that at this time the state will take complaints <br />against well contractors but has no list of contractors involved in a revocation or suspension of <br />license process. Local rules require contractors to be at the site during an inspection. <br /> <br />Jim Stefanadis asked about the approval of septic tanks. Soil site evaluations have replaced the <br />perc test and evaluates soil texture, structure, how aerobic and permeable the soil is, and how <br />impermeable it is. All that can be determined in a basic way in the field. If it is close to the <br />approval range we can ask for a lab analysis. The blacks, gray, and olive colors of soil indicate an <br />anaerobic condition of poor drainage.