Tim Nelson, Planning and Zoning Director, came before the county board on August 18 with three recommendations from the Septic Advisory Committee, which began meeting in April 2015.
The first was to reassemble the low-interest septic loan committee so it could look at possibly expanding criteria so that a wider variety of projects would be eligible for the loan program. “With the success of the low-interest septic program, and the desire of this and the land use plan committee to encourage young families to build in Cook County, the committee determined it would be worthwhile to explore the prospects of adding other property infrastructure projects to the eligibility list,” Nelson said.
The second request was to form a committee to work on issues that surround unregulated vacation rentals, which have no oversight with regards to septic land use regulations. Board Chair Heidi-Doo Kirk said she would serve on that committee.
Lastly, Nelson said that with so many current cases of septic systems that need upgrading (which resulted from inspections from the lakeshore septic compliance program) it might be prudent to wait a year “to reevaluate whether to adopt the point-of-sale septic inspection trigger or go back to a modified lakeshore septic compliance program.” The board agreed with Nelson and two boards will be formed and a year wait will be put in place.
The septic advisory committee consisted of two county commissioners, Frank Moe and Jan Sivertson, two planning commission members, two septic contractors, one member of a lake association, one Realtor, one citizen at large, the county environmental health officer and Nelson, who was an ex officio.
Anyone with questions about septic systems in Cook County is encouraged to contact Mitch Everson with Environmental Health & Septics at the Planning and Zoning office. at 218-387-3630 or email mitch.everson@ co.cook.mn.us.
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