Reading the description of the septic ordinance public hearing held by the Cook County Planning Commission held November 18 led me to a big “Aha, I knew it!”
You see, the previous report in the News-Herald
had the presenter of the ordinance to the planning commission sounding as though the proposed rules were the mandate of the state. Fancy verbal sashaying raised many folks curiosity, I am sure.
Since the 18th, apparently due to citizen inquiry, it has become abundantly clear that the adoption of an ordinance by the county is a state mandate, but the actual requirements of the ordinance were not dictated by the state but rather are the invention of someone at the county level. This was probably the same person who tried to obfuscate just what the state required with the half-truth at the previous meeting.
My family has a Lutsen area lake home that is at a maximum used 60 days a year.
The “one size fits all” requirements of the proposed ordinance would not only be extremely burdensome for a seasonal owner, but on the face of it unreasonable.
Thanks to the citizens and the commission for understanding and considering the needs of non-resident owners while working to find protection for our waters and lands.
Steve Schmidt
Lutsen/Anoka
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