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<br />SEPTIC SYSTEM REPAIR <br /> <br />Preamble: <br /> <br />Inadequate treatment of sanitary sewage represents a significant 'health' hazard. Within the City of <br />Ramsey, there are thousands of on..site septic systems, alrof which have fmite service lives. Many <br />of these systems are beyond or are approaching their expected service life of 15 to 20 years. It is <br />;.nevitable that septic system failures will occur and that the City will receive complaints regarding <br />these failures. It IS therefore imperative that the City have a policy to deal with these failures which <br />'will avoid or limit any potential public health hazard. , , " , ' , <br /> <br />Investigation of Complain'ts: <br /> <br />All complaints alleging the failure of a septic system will be investigated by the City's Building <br />Official or other staff knowledgeable in thlsarea. The individual performing the inspection shall <br />conduct an on..site visit and shall identify the purpoSe of the viSit to the occupant of the property if <br />the resident is home at the time of the visit. If the Inspector is refused access to the property for the <br />purpose of inspection, the Inspectorshallinfonn the resident that the .City Attorney will be <br />employed to gain legal access for the purpose of conducting the inspection. Any costs associated <br />with the ,City Attorney's efforts will be considered 'project costs if the system is detennined to be in <br />failure. ' ' , <br /> <br />Notice or Failure: ' <br /> <br />, If the results of the investigation cause the Inspector to determine that the system has failed, the . <br />Inspector shan iS$uenotice to the propeny owner,stating that the system has failed and providing <br />the conditions observed for that conclusion. The Inspector shall require the system to 'be repaired <br />or replaced within a specific period of time, generally no more than thirty (30) days. The Building <br />Official may extend this period for reasonable cause, primarily reason relating to constrUction, <br />providing that the propeny -owner provides evidence of regUlar pumping of the septic tank which <br />shall be no less frequent than biweekly. " ',~ . <br />, .,,(; ~.:~>>.;:... <br />Failure to, Comply With Repair or Replacement Order: <br /> <br />If the property owner fails to comply with the order of the Building Official, the Bliilding Official <br />will notify the property owner in writing of the noncompliance and advise the propeny owner that <br />th~ City wip obtain two quotations for the repair work for licensed septic system installations and <br />will authonze the work to be performed. The City will further ask the home owner to grant right <br />of entry onto the J'roperty within ten (10) days of the date of this notice. If a right of entry is hot <br />forthcoming withfu the designated period. the Building Official shall refer the need for access to the <br />propeny to the City Attorney. . ' , <br /> <br />The home owner shall be advised that all construction costs associated with the City repair and <br />legal fees,plus an administrative and overhead fee of 25% will be charged to the cost of the repair. <br />Upon completion of the project, an itemized bill for the work will be sent to the property owner. If <br />the bill is not paid in full within thirty (30) days, interest will accrue at a rate set under City policy <br />and the entire project cost will be special assessed against the subject property. <br />