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Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
Kittitas County, WA - 10/30/2017 - On October 19, 2017, the Kittitas County Board of Health (BOH) and the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved an amendment to Kittitas County Code, Chapter 13.75 Health Order. The amended code was effective immediately.
Chapter 13.75, Health Order, is an enforcement code used whenever the Kittitas County Health Officer has reason to believe that a use or condition violates any public health rules or regulations related to water and septic. The Health Officer may issue a health order whenever there is the potential for immediate and irreparable harm to the health of the public. The amendments include language to allow for the recovery of enforcement costs, since health order enforcement actions have costly impacts to the Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD). For example, in 2016, a septic related health order resulted in over $9,000.00 of staff expenses that had to be covered with tax payer dollars under the previous code. With the changes, the costs incurred for enforcing a health order will be assessed and charged to the person in violation. Often times, when KCPHD receives complaints, there is voluntary compliance. “We use health orders as our last resort,” asserts Health Officer Dr. Mark Larson. “We work hard to provide education and intervention before we get to any enforcement steps.” For more information about Kittitas County Code, Chapter 13.75, visit http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us/boc/countycode/title13.aspx#Chapter_13.75 or to contact the Kittitas County Public Health Department, please call 509-962-7515.
Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us
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Contact: Kasey Knutson, Public Information Officer, 509-962-7515