By Dustin Barnes
Daily Times Leader

A new state law requiring health department inspections and waste disposal systems installed by a licensed professional dominated the discussion at the Clay County Board of Supervisor's meeting on Thursday morning. State representative David Gibbs visited the board meeting to explain the law.
Supervisors also carried on discussions about collecting overdue garbage bills.
“We have legislation that went into effect July 1 that requires soil tests when you apply for water (services),” said board president and supervisor for District 4 Shelton Deanes. “I've got several calls from people in my district. Some need new discharge pumps or sprinkler systems. It costs $5,000 to $6,000 to put in this system.”
Gibbs said there are many places in the county where people run lines and dump their sewage in ditches.
“That's what the law was trying to correct,” Gibbs added, saying that water services cannot be turned on until the approved disposal systems are installed.
Deanes, along with other members of the board, expressed concerns over the costs of installing the mandated equipment.
“They used to set up systems for $1,200 or $1,500,” Deanes pointed out. “Some people can't pay $4,000, $5,000 to put these (disposal) systems in.”
Gibbs said septic tanks that are draining and working properly can still be used without any changes or additional charges to the residents.
“That's the law,” Gibbs said. “I don't agree with it. Many of them I don't. But when you have a majority vote, it becomes law.”
Supervisor Luke Lummus (District 2) said the state department of environmental equality has contacted him in the past to notify him of areas in his district where the department had received calls about sewage dumped in ditches.
“The DEQ is good at what they do,” Lummus said. “They'll tell you what's kosher and what's not.”
The ongoing issue of collecting past-due sanitation bills also came up during the meeting.
Deanes moved to an item on the agenda regarding the board's previous meeting when Pheba resident Regina Johnson appeared before the board to work out a payment plan for her outstanding garbage bill.
Chancery Clerk Robbie Robinson said he had received a response concerning Johnson's situation after people read about her situation in the Daily Times Leader.
“An anonymous couple, who wishes to remain anonymous, donated $100 to help her,” Robinson said.
Robinson, along with Lummus, Supervisor Floyd McKee (District 5), Supervisor R.B. Davis (District 3) and Jessie Ivy also pledged to help cover portions of the outstanding $230 garbage bill.
Charles Whatley spoke before the board regarding the county's almost $700,000 outstanding collections, saying the fee collections must continue.
“I don't know of any place where the fees are as cheap as they are in Clay County,” Whatley said, adding that the $7 monthly fee remains the cheapest in the area. “You have to pay those things.”