921.33 RESIDENTIAL SEPTIC SYSTEMS.

   (a)   Purpose. The purpose of this section is to recognize that unless household sewage treatment systems, "septic system" are properly designed, installed, operated, monitored and maintained, they can become a public nuisance that is potentially injurious to the health, safety, comfort or property of a person or which pollutes the water of the state as defined in Ohio R.C. 6111.01(H).

   (b)    State and County Regulations. The design, installation and inspection of all septic systems shall comply with the provisions set forth in Ohio Revised Code 3718.02 and any regulations set forth in Title Three, Chapter 13, Home Sewage Treatment Regulations of the Portage County Combined General Health District.

(Ord. 2018-048. Passed 4-9-18.)

   (c)    Septic Cleaning Reimbursement.

      (1)    The City shall offer residential septic cleaning reimbursements through December 31, 2023, to be overseen and directed by the Director of Public Services. The owner of any residential property within the City with a septic system shall be entitled to a one-time reimbursement of the cost of cleaning his or her septic system that exceeds $180.00, up to $180.00 of reimbursement. Said reimbursement shall be paid to the residential property owner upon the City receiving a paid receipt from the residential property owner evidencing payment for the septic cleaning service. The reimbursement shall only cover the costs for septic cleaning and not for repair and/or replacement of parts.

      (2)    From time-to-time, the Director of Public Service shall issue a Request for Proposal (RFP) and contract with a residential septic system cleaning provider to be the exclusive vendor for these services for the City. Such RFP process shall be utilized by the City through December 31, 2023, but shall be reviewed and may be extended by the Mayor and Council.

(3)   All property owners who have septic systems in their sanitary sewage system shall clean such septic system at intervals of not greater than three years, or when such system discharges settleable solids, whichever occurs first. The Director of Public Services may grant a waiver of the three-year cleaning requirement based upon special circumstances, as certified in a written application submitted by the resident. The property owner shall cause the person, firm or corporation cleaning such septic system to provide a written certification of such cleaning to the Department of Public Services, showing the date of such cleaning, the name and address of the owner of the property, and the address of the property where the septic system is located if different. The City shall maintain a database documenting such septic cleaning certifications and shall notify each property owner thirty days in advance of the expiration of the three-year interval that such septic system must be cleaned before the expiration of that interval.

         (Ord. 2020-143. Passed 11-23-20.)

PENALTIES