Board Defers Decision on Septic System Ordinance

PEORIA - Dozens of Peoria County residents voiced concern at a county board meeting Thursday night about a controversial proposal that would impact their septic systems.

Peoria County board members deferred a decision on an ordinance that would require a septic system inspection whenever a property is sold. If the system doesn't work, the owner would have to replace it before selling the property.

That does not sit well with local residents who say the ordinance would hurt the county's property value.  They say the county should have done a better job at informing the community.

"We agree that the legal requirement of public input was technically met, but the important input from stakeholders should have been sought at the beginning of the process, not when the ordinance was already written and when most minds were already made up," said Jeff Kolbus, Traders Realty president.

"I'm really insulted when people say we haven't been transparent. I don't know how much more, if there's such a phrase, how much more transparent we could have been," said board member Lynn Scott Pearson.

The board deferred the decision, so that a committee could be formed to discuss the ordinance. The committee has sixty days to submit changes to the county health department.