While looking up some information on sanitary district powers, I came upon this really interesting 1980 opinion from Attorney General Mark Meierhenry that says South Dakota sanitary districts can contract for collection of solid waste... i.e., garbage!
South Dakota Codified Law authorizes sanitary districts "to construct and operate storm and sanitary sewers and sewage and solid waste disposal plants and systems" (SDCL 34A-5-26). In my tenure on the board, I've never paid much attention to the "solid waste" portion of that clause. The folks up at Lake Poinsett did, however. Evidently the development association wanted to hand over responsibilty for contracting garbage hauling to the sanitary district. Their attorney checked with Pierre, and Pierre said go for it.
Now the idea of collecting garbage through the sanitary district has never come up, at least not in meetings I've attended. But if a central sewer is unrealistic, perhaps trash pickup is a beneficial service the district could offer. Anyone interested?
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
FY2010: Zero Taxes? Spend the Reserve? What Do You Think?
At our next meeting—Wednesday, August 19, 6:30 p.m., Madison Public Library—I will put forward for consideration a budget proposal for fiscal year 2010. The budget proposes a $4000 reduction in operating expenses. It also proposes reducing the tax levy to zero and funding operations by spending down the reserve.
As of our May meeting, our budget reserve stood at a little over $19,000 ($10,000 of which is in a CD; the rest is in our checking account). At the proposed level of spending, those reserves could sustain district operations for ten years without any levying any taxes from Lake Herman residents.
What do you think? Is a zero tax levy reasonable? If the district should maintain or even increase its tax levy, for what purposes should we use that money? Your input is welcome, here online and at the August 19 meeting.
As of our May meeting, our budget reserve stood at a little over $19,000 ($10,000 of which is in a CD; the rest is in our checking account). At the proposed level of spending, those reserves could sustain district operations for ten years without any levying any taxes from Lake Herman residents.
What do you think? Is a zero tax levy reasonable? If the district should maintain or even increase its tax levy, for what purposes should we use that money? Your input is welcome, here online and at the August 19 meeting.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
May 28 Meeting: Putting Together Homeowner Septic Tank Guide
Have you been wondering if you're taking care of your septic tank? So have we! That's why at our next meeting (May 28, 6:30 p.m., Madison Public Library), the Lake Herman Sanitary District board will look at some materials to put into an educational mailing for all district homeowners.
Care to help? If you have some good information on septic tanks -- books, flyers, websites you use, etc. -- send them our way, or bring them to the meeting! We'll look at all the good info we can get and try to boil it down into a simple pamphlet or folder that homeowners can use to keep their septic tanks in good shape for as long as possible.
Care to help? If you have some good information on septic tanks -- books, flyers, websites you use, etc. -- send them our way, or bring them to the meeting! We'll look at all the good info we can get and try to boil it down into a simple pamphlet or folder that homeowners can use to keep their septic tanks in good shape for as long as possible.
Election Coming Up!
Care to get involved in government? Now's your chance! The Lake Herman Sanitary District has a three-member board. Right now that's Lawrence Dirks, Charlie Stoneback, and me (Cory Heidelberger). We serve three-year terms. Charlie's term expires this summer. If you're interested in serving in that position (and if you live in the district), you can get a nominating petition from Jerome Lammers at his legal office in downtown Madison (108 North Egan Ave.).
You can circulate your petition starting May 29. I don't know offhand exactly how many signatures you need, but I think when I circulated my petition last year, I needed signatures from just seven registered voters in the district. An hour of door-knocking or just five minutes of handing the clipboard around at a neighborhood barbecue is all it takes!
You can submit your petitions to me here at home (1883 Cottonwood Cove Trail). The deadline is June 18. If more than one person submits, we'll have an election on Tuesday, July 8.
You can circulate your petition starting May 29. I don't know offhand exactly how many signatures you need, but I think when I circulated my petition last year, I needed signatures from just seven registered voters in the district. An hour of door-knocking or just five minutes of handing the clipboard around at a neighborhood barbecue is all it takes!
You can submit your petitions to me here at home (1883 Cottonwood Cove Trail). The deadline is June 18. If more than one person submits, we'll have an election on Tuesday, July 8.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Biggest Problem with Septic Systems: Ignorance
Last night the Lake Herman Sanitary District board discussed septic systems with Brad Benson of Royal Flush, a septic tank pumper from over by Chester. Big thanks to Brad for coming to share his professional expertise and his experiences pumping around Lake Herman (not to mention a couple gross stories -- such is the nature of the job!)
The most important thing he had to say: the biggest problem with septic tanks is ignorance. A lot of homeowners just don't know how a septic system works or what it takes to keep them working. If people are educated, they can keep their septic tanks working fine for a long time. If people don't know how their septic system works, they start doing things like planting trees in the drainfield or throwing rabbits in the tank. A few minutes of education can translate into years of happy septic tank operation.
I couldn't agree more. The sanitary district has some septic tank tips available online. The board also decided last night to assemble some septic tank information for a mailing to review at our next meeting (Wed, May 28, 6:30 p.m., Madison Public Library). We'll put together a small packet of info (Charlie and Larry will keep me from writing a book!) and, pending a formal vote at the next meeting, send it out to everyone around Lake Herman this summer.
We talked about inspection regimes. Brad mentioned that a professional associate of his in Wisconsin said that that state requires everyone to pump their tanks every two years. He noted that Wisconsin also mandates a mound system, which requires more maintenance than the typical drainfield system. A required inspection/pumping regime here might be able to work on a longer timeframe.
But we agreed last night that education is a better first step than getting out the stick. Besides, we're not particularly eager to get into the law enforcement business. We'll look through some information, then probably spend some money on stamps to put something in your mailbox this summer.
The most important thing he had to say: the biggest problem with septic tanks is ignorance. A lot of homeowners just don't know how a septic system works or what it takes to keep them working. If people are educated, they can keep their septic tanks working fine for a long time. If people don't know how their septic system works, they start doing things like planting trees in the drainfield or throwing rabbits in the tank. A few minutes of education can translate into years of happy septic tank operation.
I couldn't agree more. The sanitary district has some septic tank tips available online. The board also decided last night to assemble some septic tank information for a mailing to review at our next meeting (Wed, May 28, 6:30 p.m., Madison Public Library). We'll put together a small packet of info (Charlie and Larry will keep me from writing a book!) and, pending a formal vote at the next meeting, send it out to everyone around Lake Herman this summer.
We talked about inspection regimes. Brad mentioned that a professional associate of his in Wisconsin said that that state requires everyone to pump their tanks every two years. He noted that Wisconsin also mandates a mound system, which requires more maintenance than the typical drainfield system. A required inspection/pumping regime here might be able to work on a longer timeframe.
But we agreed last night that education is a better first step than getting out the stick. Besides, we're not particularly eager to get into the law enforcement business. We'll look through some information, then probably spend some money on stamps to put something in your mailbox this summer.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
How About Septic Tank Inspections?
Nothing nearly as big at last night's board meeting as at the January meeting. Instead of a crowd of 60, we had a crowd of one (thanks, Bill, for dropping by to keep us honest!).
We considered a number of options for the district's next major project. The option that bubbled up to the surface was a septic tank inspection regime. The district currently inspects all septic systems when they are installed to make sure they meet the proper size specifications for the number of residents or users for the building. But after that, nothing. Some folks move out here to the lake and have no idea how their septic system works, or even where it is. And a lot of systems aren't even in our records.
Given that a central sewer system remains a distant hope, perhaps the best way for the district to carry out its obligation to protect water quality in the lake is to be a little more proactive with regards to the on-site systems we have. We discussed creating a septic system inspection regime. Basically, homeowners would have to certify that they've had their septic system properly inspected every so many years.
How often? Well, one consultant offers the following table for calculating how often a septic tanks requires service, based on tank size and number of users:
At my house, we have three residents contributing to a 1500-gallon tank. This table says we should get our tank pumped every 5.9 years. (We'll actually call the honey wagon every three years, just to be safe.)
Now if the board passed a mandatory inspection regime, it would be a mess assigning a different time frame for each building. We'd likely settle for an average that would ensure at least some accountability for every system.
To come up with a fair average, though, and to come up with other criteria to make an inspection regime worthwhile, we need some input. Before we pass any ordinance, we're going to invite the septic installers and inspectors in Lake County to our next meeting to tell us how often they generally recommend inspecting tanks and what they can determine in regular inspections. We'll also check with the DENR to ask them what objective criteria they set for septic tanks and ask what inspection regimes other districts may be using. And as always, we'll welcome your input as well. Comment here, call us, come to the meeting (Wednesday, April 23, 6:30 p.m., Madison Public Library meeting room).
Once we get some more information, we'll see whether an inspection regime would be practical. It's likely that if we do start any inspection regime, we'll combine it with some educational efforts. But you don't have to wait around for us to come by with a folder and a rule: there's lots of information online for homeowners who want to take good care of their septic systems and keep them working for a very long time.
Remember: maintaining your septic system may sound yucky, but it's good for the lake and for your pocketbook. If you can't remember the last time you had your septic system checked, that's a good sign that your tank is due for some attention.
We considered a number of options for the district's next major project. The option that bubbled up to the surface was a septic tank inspection regime. The district currently inspects all septic systems when they are installed to make sure they meet the proper size specifications for the number of residents or users for the building. But after that, nothing. Some folks move out here to the lake and have no idea how their septic system works, or even where it is. And a lot of systems aren't even in our records.
Given that a central sewer system remains a distant hope, perhaps the best way for the district to carry out its obligation to protect water quality in the lake is to be a little more proactive with regards to the on-site systems we have. We discussed creating a septic system inspection regime. Basically, homeowners would have to certify that they've had their septic system properly inspected every so many years.
How often? Well, one consultant offers the following table for calculating how often a septic tanks requires service, based on tank size and number of users:
| Table I. Septic Tank Pumping Frequency in Years | ||||||||||
| . | Household size - Number of Occupants | |||||||||
| . | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 |
| Tank-Gallons | Septic Tank Pumping Frequency in Years | |||||||||
| 500* | 5.8 | 2.6 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | -- |
| 750* | 9.1 | 4.2 | 2.6 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 0.3 |
| 900 | 11.0 | 5.2 | 3.3 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.5 |
| 1000 | 12.4 | 5.9 | 3.7 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 0.7 |
| 1250 | 15.6 | 7.5 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.0 |
| 1500 | 18.9 | 9.1 | 5.9 | 4.2 | 3.3 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.3 |
| 1750 | 22.1 | 10.7 | 6.9 | 5.0 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.6 |
| 2000 | 25.4 | 12.4 | 8.0 | 5.9 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
| 2250 | 28.6 | 14.0 | 9.1 | 6.7 | 5.2 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 2.3 |
| 2500 | 30.9 | 15.6 | 10.2 | 7.5 | 5.9 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 2.6 |
At my house, we have three residents contributing to a 1500-gallon tank. This table says we should get our tank pumped every 5.9 years. (We'll actually call the honey wagon every three years, just to be safe.)
Now if the board passed a mandatory inspection regime, it would be a mess assigning a different time frame for each building. We'd likely settle for an average that would ensure at least some accountability for every system.
To come up with a fair average, though, and to come up with other criteria to make an inspection regime worthwhile, we need some input. Before we pass any ordinance, we're going to invite the septic installers and inspectors in Lake County to our next meeting to tell us how often they generally recommend inspecting tanks and what they can determine in regular inspections. We'll also check with the DENR to ask them what objective criteria they set for septic tanks and ask what inspection regimes other districts may be using. And as always, we'll welcome your input as well. Comment here, call us, come to the meeting (Wednesday, April 23, 6:30 p.m., Madison Public Library meeting room).
Once we get some more information, we'll see whether an inspection regime would be practical. It's likely that if we do start any inspection regime, we'll combine it with some educational efforts. But you don't have to wait around for us to come by with a folder and a rule: there's lots of information online for homeowners who want to take good care of their septic systems and keep them working for a very long time.
Remember: maintaining your septic system may sound yucky, but it's good for the lake and for your pocketbook. If you can't remember the last time you had your septic system checked, that's a good sign that your tank is due for some attention.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Stoneback: not so fast -- jurisdiction on anything but central system?
Charlie Stoneback, response to Heidelberger, 2008.02.11:
My purpose for being involved in the sanitary district was to get a sewage system of some sort that would eliminate septic systems and waste retention tanks around the lake and water sheds feeding into the lake. I may be wrong, but aren't we on questionable ground when a sanitary district spends money on projects which deviate from that purpose. I have sent our previous email correspondence on to L. Dirks, but I think we need to get him involved before we get too much further
My purpose for being involved in the sanitary district was to get a sewage system of some sort that would eliminate septic systems and waste retention tanks around the lake and water sheds feeding into the lake. I may be wrong, but aren't we on questionable ground when a sanitary district spends money on projects which deviate from that purpose. I have sent our previous email correspondence on to L. Dirks, but I think we need to get him involved before we get too much further
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