Officials to consider pay-per-inspection plan to offset estimated loss

BY JOE GIESSLER
The Eagle-Gazette Staff

Published March 3, 2009

FAIRFIELD COUNTY - Residents no will longer pay an annual fee for septic system inspections beginning in 2010.

The District Advisory Council of the Fairfield Department of Health voted Monday, 18-3, to remove the fee of $40 charged to about 5,500 county residents for checking their aerobic septic systems.
The decision led to a round of applause from the estimated 40 residents who filled every seat in the meeting room for the two-and-half-hour meeting.

Berne Township Trustee Jim Carmichael stopped paying the fee because his system was inspected only once in a four-year span, causing the health department to issue a lien on his property.

"Residents are willing to pay if there is a service," Carmichael said at the meeting. "But if there is nothing in return then it is unacceptable."

He said he gladly will pay his bill, including the $15 late fee he was issued.

Health officials said a committee will develop a new septic program, such as a pay-per-inspection fee, to compensate for the estimated loss of $200,000 in annual fees.

Several members of the District Advisory Council said they would support a pay-per-inspection fee charged to residents.