A special joint work session between the Marshall County Council and Commissioners on Monday was called to receive additional information from the Water Task Force.
Commissioner Mike Delp who sits on the task force as the commissioner’s appointment welcomed the crowd gathered and introduced County Building commissioner Chuck DeWitt.
DeWitt gave a comprehensive overview of the issue they have been reviewing the last six months. He listed the 18 task force members, noting they come from diversified backgrounds and represent the entire county. He also pointed out the areas of concern the committee has selected including 9 small towns in the county, 5 mobile home parks, 13 lakes and 22 subdivisions without sewers.
DeWitt also told the joint meeting, the first day a septic system is used is the first day it begins to fail, meaning that no septic system lasts forever. He said a typical septic system last 20 or so years.
Christine Stinson, Chairman of the Water Task Force and administrator of the County Health Department explained some of the efforts of the Health Dept. as they see an increase in failing and inadequate septic systems in the county.
She also gave members test results from a year-long water sampling conducted by the Marshall County Soil and Water Conservation District. Those results showed elevated e. coli levels with at least 50% of them coming from humans and not farm animals.
The committee had additional people comment including Jay Stone who has been a registers septic contractor for over 40 years. He said it is getting more difficult because properties are running out of space for a replacement septic.
A couple people voiced their concerns including County Survey Craig Cultice who inherited a residential property on Hawk Lake. After spending time making improvement to the home in preparation for selling the house, they had a deal fall-through because it was learned that the septic has failed. He looked for several options including trying to purchase additional property or acquire and easement with no success. While the home is only a half mile from the Culver Treatment plant, they have no plans to extend to the 12 homes at Hawk Lake.
Jamie Borden lives in McQueens addition with her husband who is a doctor and their children. The purchased their home 11 years ago after having a septic inspection. When they had their septic pumped just two years later they found their septic system was failing. For the last several years they have taken aggressive steps to extend the life of the system including adding a full bathroom at her husband’s work so he can shower there and not at their home. They have also worked with a septic provider to look for a solution.
Ken Jones from Jones Petrie Rafinski created proposal to create a preliminary engineering report for Marshall County’s consideration of the creation of a possible regional sewage district. The scope of services will include project planning and preliminary activities along with the develop of alternatives to the failing sewers.
Estimated cost for the preliminary engineering report is $35,000 to $45,000.
While the committee didn’t directly asked the council for the funds on Monday, they did say they would be back to seek funding for the report.
