Septic Permits Up 43-Percent Here, Indicating Lots of New Development in Fayette Co.

Development in the unincorporated areas of Fayette County increased greatly last year.

The number of septic permits issued by the County in a year provides a rough gauge for the amount of construction in the rural areas, since every country toilet has to be tied to a County-approved septic system. In 2018 and 2019, those numbers were 226 and 234 respectively.

Last year, the County issued 335 septic permits, a 43 percent increase over the previous year.

“200 to 220 is right around where we normally run on volume,” said County Inspector Clint Sternadel in a report to the Commissioners Court last Thursday. “It was a very good year for us. A whole lot of new construction as well as remodel construction around the County.”

In other business at Thursday’s meeting, Ledbetter Volunteer Firefighter Rodney Read spoke during the public comment period about a problem regarding tow trucks for traffic accidents. Read recalled an 18-wheeler rollover that happened on US 290 in the ice storm last week.

Read said a tow truck from La Grange arrived soon after the accident and could have quickly hauled the big rig away from the accident scene. However, the business that owned the 18-wheeler called a different tow company to pick up their truck. Read said volunteer firefighters had to stand by at the accident scene for hours in cold weather until the other tow truck arrived.

Read asked Commissioners whether the County could require wrecked vehicles to be promptly towed from the scene by any available tow truck. Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom presided over Thursday’s meeting as County Judge Pro Tem because County Judge Joe Weber was absent from the meeting. McBroom told Read that he would consult with Weber about finding a solution.