Like many businesses, the county’s Environmental Health department is having a difficult time finding workers to fill open positions. The worker shortage has created a backlog for permits, which leaves some people unable to proceed with projects such as installing wells and septic systems.
“We’ve been trying to do a lot of different things to help with the situation,” said Public Health Director Kathy McGaha.
Environmental Health, a department within the Macon County Health Department, offers services such as inspections and permitting of septic systems, private drinking water wells, swimming pools, hospitals, day care centers, schools, food handling, tattoo parlors and lodging establishments.
The department also performs site evaluations for septic system and well permits, restaurant plan reviews and pool plan reviews.
There are currently three vacancies for environmental health specialists. The department is running about 12 weeks behind on permits. McGaha said they prioritize repairs such as to septic tanks because those situations involve someone already living in a house compared to new builds not yet occupied. Complaints and final inspections also get moved up on the priority list, then new commercial and residential permits.
To help work through some of the backlog, the county is contracting with specialists from other counties that can come on their days off and work here. The department’s budget includes funding for four contract workers.
In a Board of Public Health meeting earlier this year, County Commissioner Paul Higdon said the delay on projects impacts the local economy. He suggested the appointment of a committee including people from the health department and real estate to look at possible solutions. He also suggested that the county ask the state to modify the requirements for the job.
McGaha said they would like to see a change in the requirements for the job, and that is something departments across the state are working together on.
The minimum requirements for an environmental health specialist are a bachelor’s degree with 30 semester hours of course work in physical and biological sciences and two years of experience in environmental health.
McGaha said they are trying to broaden the types of sciences that would qualify.
New technicians
The Health Department’s budget for this new fiscal year, which began July 1, includes funding for two new environmental health technicians to assist the environmental health specialists. They can help with the physical work on site, so when the specialists arrive for inspections most of the work should be complete.
The technicians will be trained to go to a work site to make sure all the necessary steps are completed, and the required measurements are recorded for the permit before the specialist goes to the site.
“That will really be beneficial one we get it going,” McGaha said.
The part-time technician positions have been posted on the county’s job listing board. The qualifications for the position include a high school diploma and one year of experience. The salary is $14.7890 per hour.
The job description is as follows: Perform in a supportive role under the supervision of sanitarians. Duties include performing site visits to assure lots are ready for soil evaluations, limited complaint investigation (verification), some office duties: (answering the phone, performing record searches, assist REHS with paperwork, etc.), collect water samples, and assist REHS with inspections, complaints or other activities as needed. Work may include other duties as assigned.
Site checklist
McGaha said there are some things people can do to help when they apply for a permit that may make the process move along more smoothly and quickly.
She said one of the biggest problems they encounter, which slows down the permitting process, is when they arrive on a site, the property owners have not done the necessary work required before the site visit.
“There are several times they get to a site and it’s not ready,” McGaha said. “They (the inspectors) can’t do what they need to do. We’re wasting time going out to a site that’s not ready.” It can especially be time consuming for the staff when the sites are located within the more remote areas of the county that take 30 minutes or more to drive to.
With the department down to two environmental health specialists on staff, it’s even more critical for the sites to be ready when the inspectors arrive.
To help with the process, the Environmental Health office offers property owners an application checklist that they are required to initial as each item is completed.
Some of the steps property owners are required to take before a site visit include:
• Fill out all the necessary fields on the application form
• Complete a site plan (a separate checklist is available for that)
• Pay the appropriate fee
• Ensure property corners and lines are easily identifiable
• Clear brush and foliage from the area for the septic system or well so the inspector can walk unimpeded and see the whole area clearly
• Mark areas for planned buildings or improvements
• Provide a copy of the real estate contract with closing date, so the department can try to schedule a site visit during the due diligence period.
There is a $125 revisit fee for sites that are not prepared when the environmental health specialist arrives for inspection.
For a full checklist and application, contact the Environmental Health office at 828-349-2490. The form may be downloaded from the county website, maconnc.org, click on the Online Services tab.