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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM101288 <e : ~-<so~ 3- 1~Ib/SS -- IkaLlh tJq4--~.€U...~ p-IJolt? I//D 'Afd11,S",$,dl7/S-/i9 JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF EQUALIZATION A. C. DALGLEISH DAVID G. DOUGLAS ARCHIE BARBER, JR. CHAIRMAN VICE-CHAIRMAN MEMBER ALTERNATE MINUTES OCT 0 B E R 12, I 9 8 8 The Board of Equalization convened at 11:00 a.m. with Chairman A.C. Dalgleish, Vice-Chairman David G. Douglas, Member Archie Barber, Jr. and Clerk Dierdrei L. Whiteford present. The Assessor's Office was represented by Assessor Jack Westerman III, Deputy Assessor Robert Shold, Deputy Assessor Robert Kingsley, Deputy Assessor Robert Barry, and Administrative Assistant Jeff Chapman. Rick Mick1ich was present as a representative of the Jefferson County Health Department. This being a meeting which was not recorded, these Minutes are a compilation of notes from Clerk Dierdrei Whiteford and Vice-Chairman Douglas. The purpose of this meeting was to: 1) Determine future administrative communications between the Assessor's Office, the Health Department and the Board of Equalization. 2) To further the understanding of how each Department functions and interacts with the other Departments. 3) To review the impact of Perc Denials over recent years on the total valuation of Jefferson County property. 4) To determine the most recent developments of methods to accomplish disposal of residential sewage. 5) To determine whether various methods of sewage disposal should generate a change in the procedures of the Assessor's Office and the Board of Equalization in making adjustments in valuation of affected parcels of land. 1 MINUTES o F OCTOBER I 2. 1 9 8 8 The following information is a synopsis of the information presented at this meeting. NON PERC vs. UNDEVELOPABLE Rick Mick1ich, of the Health Department, pointed out that there has been only one instance of outright rejection of a parcel of land as a plausible building site for a residence. The Health Department no longer issues a standard letter of Denial of a Permit. The Health Department now reviews the parcel in question and, if necessary, alerts the applicant to the fact that their parcel is not suitable for the "conventional" septic tank and drain field. The Health Department then recommends that the applicant seek the advice of a sewage system designer, approved by the Health Department, for assistance in the development of a system that will meet the unique conditions of the land in question. It was noted that the system Designer receives $300.00 to $400.00. The State of Washington Health Department now approves of three alternatives to the "conventional" system of the past. Consideration of the Wisconsin Mound, the Pressurized Distribution System, and the Aerobic Intermittent Recirculating Reactor (AIRR) System as alternatives is now possible. The licensed system designer works with the applicant to select the appropriate system for the parcel in question, and then prepares an application for presentation to the County Health Department. Upon approval of the design, the Health Department will issue a permit for the system design. The approval is valid for three years, which means that the applicant has three years from the issuance of the permit to install the approved system. The only instance in which a Permit Denial will be issued is when the soil conditions, terrain, or other local conditions make the parcel undevelopable no matter what system is considered. ALTERNATIVE SYSTEMS A brief description of the alternative systems and the "conventional" system was presented. These descriptions follow. I) Conventional Gravity Drain Field System: Estimated Cost of system: $3,000.00 to $4,000.00 The effluent from the septic tank flows by gravity into a field of 4" drain tile embedded in gravel within a ditch and covered with top soil. The grade of the tile must be set within certain standards. During most of the time of operation, the effluent covers only a portion of the total drain field. Effluent percolates into existing soil. 2) Pressure Distribution System: 2 -' MINUTES o F OCTOBER I 2. I 9 8 8 Estimated Cost of system: None given The effluent is moved into a perforated pipe (with a small diameter) under pressure. This is done so that the effluent is distributed throughout the full length of the drain field. The pipe is embedded in a ditch similar to the conventional drain field system. 3) Wisconsin Mound System: Estimated Cost of system: $10,000.00 to $15,000.00 The area of the drain field is rotovated or mechanically mixed to a depth of 18". The drain field is laid on top of this surface. Then an 18" layer of sand, of a specified screen analysis, is placed over this drain field. The goal of this installation is to attain 50% absorption in the soil and 50% evaporation through the sand mound. 4) Aerobic Intermittent Recirculatinq Reactor (AIRRl System: Estimated Cost of system: None given The effluent is pumped through spray nozzles located above tanks or vats of gravel in a recycle manner which is similar to a secondary treatment plant. The effluent discharge from this system is of a higher water quality. It is drained into a conventional or mound field, depending upon the soil condition of the parcel. ASSESSED VALUATION IMPACT In the past the Jefferson County Assessor's Office has determined the land value of a parcel based on values in the area. A reduction of 25% to 50% was given off this valuation based on evidence of a Perc Denial. The Jefferson County Board of Equalization has followed this procedure with consideration given to the proximity of a sewer system in making adjustments to individual parcel or area re-va1uation decisions. Based on the report of the Health Department that perc denials will be replaced by either permits for alternative solutions or a designation as undevelopable, the Assessor and the Board of Equalization agreed that revised policy and procedures for valuation adjustments are in order. The State Statutes require that all comparable parcels in an area must be valued on a uniform basis. The Assessor's Office will need a short time to determine procedures for giving temporary or permanent credits on the valuation of a parcel due to limitations as to alternative systems which will be required on a permit for construction. 3 . MINUTES o F OCTOBER 1 2. 1 9 8 8 The Assessor's Office will coordinate their findings and procedures with the Health Department to assure that both the County and the Parcel Owner have an equitable setting of the valuation adjustments and the period over which such an adjustment will be applicable. The Assessor's Office will inform the Board of Equalization of the revised policies and procedures once they are adopted to enable the Board of Equalization to use them in making any decisions on appeals in the future. OTHER BUSINESS As Rick Micklich is leaving his position with Jefferson County Health Department it was recommended that any future questions be directed to Steve Rice until further notice. There being no further business before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 12:15 p.m. until 9:00 a.m. November 2, 1988. APPROVED BY: DATE APPROVED:tJ;~/~/~ Lit! ()j(-' A.C.DALGLEI . CHAIRMAN ATTESTED B~~~~ IE I ITEF ~ C0 9- DAVID . JDOUG~ VICE-CHAIRMAN ~ L:.. ~ ~ 'it--' ARCH:LE: L. BARBER, JR., MEMBER 4