Septic-field issue bubbles up again

By KAREN PARKER

County Line Publisher Emeritus

The old issue of septic fields and the Amish is back in play, as the Wisconsin’s legislature postponement of three-year inspections is about to end.

Allison Elliot, Monroe County Zoning Officer, said the process of identifying fields takes some time. The county looks over GPS maps and usually sends out about 3,000 letters alerting people they must file a maintenance report. 

That number is whittled down to 700 for a second reminder letter and has dwindled even more before the matter is turned over to the corporate counsel, she said.

About 70 letters were recently sent, many to members of the Amish community, Elliot noted. The letter threatens further action, including a fine of $295, if the maintenance report is not completed. The county can impose the fine every day for the time the form is not completed.

Although some interpret this to mean the Amish are required to install septic fields, Elliot said this is not the case. The county can and does accept privy systems as a substitute. There are no state laws regarding those, although once the vaults are filled, they would need to be pumped. Their location also must comply with DNR rules. 

Elliot said she has not heard objections for religious reasons, which is the case in Minnesota, where numerous Amish families have gone to court in resistance to Minnesota’s septic-field laws. In most cases, they are part of a building-permit process, which also has been met with resistance. 

Vernon County

Susan Burkhamer of Vernon County Zoning said her department also had sent thousands of letters, but had not yet made any referrals to Vernon County corporate counsel. 

Vernon County has the largest Amish population in the state, and the mostly old-order Amish are resistant to complying with wastewater rules. 

Some have told her they run graywater from the house, but use a bucket for bathroom duties and then spread it on the ground. Spreading waste, Burkhamer said, would fall under the DNR’s purview. 

Burkhamer said a religious exemption for wastewater expired in April, and now any home with water must comply with the wastewater rules.

Burkhamer said she also gets resistance from the English on compliance. “The Amish don’t have to do this — why should I?”

She said she would ask more questions of anyone claiming to use a privy and would also put that privy on a list to be pumped and inspected every three years, as are septic fields. 

If all this seems confusing, it is. Burkhamer agreed the state has offered very little guidance in how to manage private septic fields beyond the three-year inspection mandate. And as is often the case, mandates come from the legislature without any money to enforce them.  

 

Comments are closed.

  • Strains of spring 

    March 22nd, 2024
    by

    Brookwood Junior/Senior High School hosted its spring concert Thursday.  Esther Wooten and Drew Powell provide percussion for the senior high […]


    Pretrial conference for Barton yields no updates, more charges possible

    March 22nd, 2024
    by

    Monday’s pretrial conference for former Wilton clerk/treasurer Leigha Barton, who was charged in January with counts related to embezzlement from the village, resulted in no new developments, according to Monroe County District Attorney Kevin Croninger. 


    Royall hires new principal

    March 13th, 2024
    by

    Kole Huth will serve as the new Royall Middle School/High School Principal, the board of education decided at its meeting Monday. 


    Crowd attends meeting on Ontario development projects

    March 13th, 2024
    by

    No one quite expected the crowd of about 25 people to show up at Monday evening’s Ontario’s regular monthly board meeting. What drew so much interest was a hearing held about the new 12-unit apartment building under construction on Church Street.


    Kendall OK’s $2.1 million downtown project

    March 13th, 2024
    by

    Kendall approved a $2.1 million downtown (South Railroad Street) infrastructure project, which will occur in conjunction with the state’s reconstruction of Highway 71, at its regular meeting Monday. 


  • Norwalk police chief resigns

    March 13th, 2024
    by

    After nine years with the village, Police Chief David Jones submitted his resignation to the Norwalk Village Board, which it accepted at its Tuesday meeting. 


    N-O-W School Board approves expenditures, applications for college-credit program

    March 13th, 2024
    by

    The N-O-W School Board approved student applications to Brookwood’s fall college credit program totaling a little over $27,000 in tuition and materials.


    Wilton board candidates take part in reception

    March 8th, 2024
    by

    On Saturday, the Wilton Public Library hosted an open reception with the candidates for the Wilton Village Board.


    Royall boys earn first conference title in 11 years

    February 29th, 2024
    by

    The Royall boys basketball team clinched the Scenic Bluffs Conference title outright with a win over Bangor 53–37 on Feb. 22.


    Royall girls gain first regional title in 47 years

    February 29th, 2024
    by

    The Royall girls basketball team marked history in its program, as the team earned its first regional title since 1977.


    Wilton, N-O-W work out details of softball-field project

    February 29th, 2024
    by

    To refine an agreement allowing the Norwalk-Ontario-Wilton School District to use Wilton’s new softball field, school representatives met with the Wilton Village Board on Tuesday. 


  • Archives