Septic issue in limbo due to MPCA rule changes

For months Cook County has been reviewing its sewage treatment system ordinance. A study committee has submitted recommendations and one public hearing has been held. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency wanted counties to have revised ordinances in place by early February.

Now MPCA has a new list of rule changes. “The stack of rule changes is bigger than our draft ordinance,” said Planning and Zoning Officer Tim Nelson.

A second public hearing tentatively set for this month has been scrapped while Cook County and many other counties in the state review their options. According to Nelson county planning association members have met to discuss the new changes and there is no consistency in their response.

Nelson said some counties have elected to meet the February deadline and make adjustments later; others have decided to wait until they have an opportunity to process the rule changes. In any event, it appears MPCA will not enforce its original February deadline.

Nelson said he will bring a summary of the rule changes that affect Cook County to the county board meeting on Jan. 12. A second public hearing will not be scheduled until after another re-write of the ordinance is complete.