HB206 Summary

• The Lowndes County Commission may compel property owners in unincorporated areas to connect existing privies, water closets, and septic tanks to any available public sewerage system (publicly or privately owned) within 90 days of official notice.

• Where public sewerage systems are unavailable, the county commission through the county health department shall compel connections to private disposal systems that conform to State Board of Health rules.

• Notice to property owners must cite this law as authority, include the name and telephone number of a county contact person, and be signed by a designated county officer or employee.

• If property owners fail to connect after reasonable notice, the county may make the connection and assess the expense against the property as a lien superior to all other liens, collected like other debts.

• The county must file a written statement with the judge of probate describing the property, owner name, and connection costs; this filing serves as notice of the lien from the filing date.

• The county health department or county commission may enforce these provisions through the Circuit Court of Lowndes County by seeking injunctions or other appropriate remedies.