Caledonia Argus

Report shows 41 percent of septic systems failing

Posted: 2/3/04

By Shannon McKinney
Argus News Reporter

According to the 2004 annual report from Agriculture Best Management Programs, it was estimated in 2003 that there were 3,265 on-site septic systems(OSTS) in Houston County. Of that number, 41 percent,1,338, are estimated to be failing or an imminent danger to public health.

The information was part of a report that given to the Houston County Board on January 27.

In 2003, 32 permits were issued for fixing OSTS compared to seven permits issued in 2002.

There are 615 feedlots in Houston County with 73 percent, or 450, not in compliance with feedlot storage and or runoff control requirements. Of that, 250 are in the process of designing or upgrading their feedlots. In 2003, 10 feedlots were brought into compliance last year.

Houston County feedlot officer Bob Scanlan estimates that there are about 200 feedlots with a third that are in compliance.

The state has given feedlot owners until 2005 to be 50 percent in compliance and 100 percent compliance by 2010.

By the state setting a deadline, feedlot owners have been more proactive about getting their feedlots into compliance, Scanlan said.

He anticipates that everyone will not meet the deadlines. ìWeíll be pretty good to get half or two-thirds done. The MPCA (Minnesota Pollution Control Agency) is already talking about extending that deadline,î he said.

Many feedlot owners who are planning to retire before 2010 are not being pushed to upgrade their feedlots, said Scanlan.

The average cost to update a feedlot is about $2,000 and takes about a week to complete. There is also some planning involved before hand said Scanlan.

The Houston County Board gave its approval for Merchants Bank in Caledonia to apply for a grant from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture for a $73,000 revolving loan fund.

The fund would work the same way as the revolving loan fund available at Fortress Bank in Houston. The fund is set up for individuals to receive low interest loans to upgrade their existing septic systems. The money can also be used for the design or implementation of a construction upgrade for storage or control runoff for compliance with the feedlot rules. After the money is paid, it returns to the revolving loan fund and is made available again. Fortress Bankís revolving loan fund began in 1996. Approximately $165,000 will be available for loans this year.

La Crosse waits for contract

La Crosse County Waste Management is eager to extend its contract with Houston County, which expires in 2008, to 2023. Houston County is the only one of five counties it contracts with who has not signed an extension. The new contract stipulates that Houston County pay Waste Management a yearly fee for the update of the incinerator on French Island.

At the January 27 Houston County board meeting, environmental services director Rick Frank said they actually donít pay that yearly fee because they receive credit for the amount of waste that is dropped off at the landfill, which is enough to cover the fee.

Houston County is working with Dick Nowlin of Lindquist and Vennum of St. Paul to draft an amendment to the contract. He is currently out of the country and not returning until the first week in February. Therefore, the final contract will not be ready until after that time.

Commissioner Kevin Kelleher said Nowlin needs to have a final look at the contract before he signs it.

Kelleher noted that the indemnification clause appeared to offer basic coverage excusing them from any liability from the old landfill and also for some things for the new incinerator.

Kelleher instructed Frank to research whether the county is liable for the 97,000 tons of railroad ties that are burned every year at the incinerator.

ìThat concerns me. I think that had something to do with the initial incompliance,î said Kelleher.

Frank later explained to The Argus that the incinerator was upgraded due to being re-classified, which required tighter pollution controls. The upgrade to the system is able to handle the burning of railroad ties, whereas the older system was not.

In other news, Stephan Ritter was hired as the drop site supervisor and will primarily serve the La Crescent and Hokah drop sites.

Financial worker resigns

The board received notice from financial assistance supervisor Bonnie Goetzinger of the resignation of Maria Johnson, a financial worker, in the financial unit of the human services department.

Johnson has been with the department for three years and will be staying at home to pursue a career in day care.

Goetzinger told commissioners that currently their caseload for those receiving assistance for medical, cash, food support and medical supply is at 1,100 which is an increase of 200 cases in the last four years. She noted that this does not include childcare assistance cases which is at 100. With six financial workers, this averages 200 cases per worker.

ìI donít feel I can ask a worker to take on that many,î she said.

Kelleher confirmed that the biggest increase for assistance comes cases come from the elderly. ìWeíre not talking about welfare mothers with children, but the majority is elderly who have worked hard all their lives but are now in a position where they need help from the state.î

Johnson gave the county a six week notice of resignation which allows the county extra time to hire a replacement. Applicants must take the Minnesota Merit System test before being eligible for the position.

Kelleher questioned if there was a way to take some of the work home and complete it virtually via the internet.

Personnel Director Tim Comstock responded that it has been done before and yielded mixed results. MCIT (Minnesota Counties Insurance Trust) has issues with liability. Should a loss occur we still have to cover the claim. We have no control over the environment.î

Miscellaneous business

In other business, Comstock informed commissioners that they will need to sign an annual conflict of interest review to remain in compliance with rules from the state auditors office.

Elected officials, department heads, and supervisors are required to sign off on them.

Comstock said the county also needs to prepare a disaster recovery plan for how the government would function in the event of a disaster to the courthouse. ìWe need to meet and discuss this on a monthly basis,î he said.

Discussion would focus on duplication of vital records, especially when those records are used to create revenue and also relocation ideas.

Comstock noted that the closing date for receiving applications for the manager of Wildcat Park Campsite was Friday, Jan. 30.

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