11-26-1990 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Septic System Management Program August 24, 1990 Page 12 of 16 Exhibit A indicates the number of existing septic systems in use in Orono each year since 1978. Note that the septic program was funded by a federal grant in 1978, and the first service charge billing occurred in 1979 in the amount of $20.00 per system. That fee increased to $25.00 in 1980 but was reverted back to $20.00 in 1981 and has remained at $20.00 ever since. The number of systems being billed on a yearly basis has increased at a slower rate than the number of new rural homes constructed, due to new connections to City sewers which have been constructed in the last 10-15 years. Note for the record that program fee income has been lumped into the general Building & Zoning budget each year, and has never been devoted strictly to the septic program. This policy should be reviewed. Exhibit B indicates staff hours devoted to the septic program each year, including full-time and part-time staff hours. The bar diagram indicates two distinct facts: - Total staff hours devoted to the septic program have generally decreased since the beginning of the program; and - In the years 1984 through 1989 where staff time sheets show a distinction between administration time and inspection time, the hours devoted to program administration have declined to a level of 3-4 hours per week. Exhibit C indicates staff time spent on the overall septic pr.^grcun vs. the number of existing system inspections completed. The number of inspections in the first three years was relatively low due to the need to locate lost systems and create septic cards, etc. Since then, the years with the higher number of existing system inspections occur mainly ii those years in which a part-time inspector devoted his or her efforts exclusively to the septic program without other responsibilities. (D