Board of Health receives update on Mt. Union

BY KARYN SPORY

Mt. Pleasant News

When the Regional Utility Service System (RUSS) installed shut-off valves on a handful of homes in Mt. Union, Henry County Environmental Health Specialist Jodi Sutter began monitoring the situation to make sure the affected properties adhered to environmental health practices.

On Tuesday, she updated the Henry County Board of Health on the situation, specifically a camper that had been moved onto one of the properties.

Sutter stated she had received an email from RUSS Executive Director Bruce Hudson indicating he would appreciate the Board of Health?s assistance on two shut-off valves installed in Mt. Union.

?They have checked and there has been no tampering or alteration of the valves, but their question was how or what kind of system are they using on that property,? she said.

Sutter explained that as she investigated she found out that one of the properties belongs to a deceased couple; their son lives on the property behind their home in a trailer. His home also had a shut-off valve installed.

?What has happened is he has pulled a camper/RV into that property. From the best knowledge that I can gather is they are using that as their facilities,? she said.

Sutter said she spoke with an attorney from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, who stated technically the Board of Health could permit the camper as a temporary system if they so chose to. However, Sutter says, as Chapter 69 is written, if a public wastewater treatment facility is available, a property owner must hook up to it. ?So he would encourage us not to do so,? she said of granting a temporary permit.

Following her discussion with the attorney, Sutter sent a letter to the property owner and his sister, who Sutter says is taking care of their late parents? estate. ?The letter says that as Chapter 69 is written a permit cannot be granted, so the camper needs to be removed from the property within 30 days,? she stated.

The letters were sent by certified mail last week, but Sutter has not received any confirmation the letters have been picked up. ?They may not sign for them,? said Sutter. ?If that happens, Darin (Stater, Henry County Attorney) will take the case and go from there.?

Sutter added it would be a $500 fine for every day the camper is not removed following the notification.

When asked if the camper had been dumping or leaking raw sewage, Sutter said she had not received any reports from neighbors.

Also during her report, Sutter said she was finishing up her inspections of the county?s tanning salons, tattoo parlors and swimming pools. As for tanning beds, Sutter says she is seeing fewer tanning facilities in the county, as the popularity of spray tans are on the rise.

The next meeting of the Henry County Board of Health will be held at 12:30 p.m., on July 26. A meeting room has not been determined at this time.