Callaway County officials are considering establishing a county sewer district, and they're seeking area residents' input.
The Callaway County Health Department announced plans Monday to host a series of community public meetings across the county throughout November.
Scheduled meetings so far include:
Stephens Community Hall, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Hams Prairie Christian Church, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 13.
Calwood Community Hall, 6:30 p.m. Nov. 16.
Fulton Callaway County Health Department, 2 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Nov. 30.
The department also is planning meetings in Millersburg, Mokane, Tebbetts, Williamsburg, Holts Summit, Auxvasse, New Bloomfield, Kingdom City, Portland and any other community that wishes to host one.
Potential topics will include who's affected and whether people can opt out.
Plans to establish a sewer district have been in the works since 2014.
"We have several residential subdivisions operated by homeowners' associations and some (wastewater treatment) operators that aren't currently meeting Department of Natural Resources discharge limits," said Kent Wood, environmental and public health specialist for the health department. "A lot of them are asking for help, especially out around the Millersburg area."
While the health department can't intervene directly, Wood said it can work to establish a sewer district. The district would have its own board but would be under the oversight of the county. County residents will have to vote on establishing a sewer district, and Wood said the issue will be on the April 2018 ballot.
Even if voters reject the proposal, he added, the health department will do its best to continue offering guidance to the struggling communities.
Wood clarified not everyone will be affected by the district - only people living in communities or subdivisions with permitted National Pollutant Discharge Eliminate Systems that want to join.
"If you're on your own system it doesn't pertain to you whatsoever," he said.
For example, he's heard interest from people living in Millersburg and Hams Prairie.
Once a district is approved by voters and established, the sewer district likely will hire a contractor until it can organize its own team, Wood said.
Then the district can begin examining problem wastewater systems on a case-by-case basis.
"It can offer operational help, maintenance and help bring systems into compliance," Wood said. "This whole thing is going to be centered around the failing systems we have in the county and how do we assess them."
The sewer district could propose a bond issue for revamping the Millersburg system as early as November 2018, he added.
Eventually, Wood said, the district could rebuild some sewage systems. He offered the example of a subdivision with several small sewer lagoons, where a single system could serve the whole subdivision more effectively.
"But that's going to be years down the road," he said. "We have to look at each one of those facilities and ask which one's in the greatest need."
Regarding costs, Wood said only the people whose communities opt into the sewer district would have to pay a monthly service fee.
Aside from attending meetings, residents can look to the health department's website and social media accounts for updates.