I had my septic system inspected a couple weeks back as per the new rules and regulations placed on us by our elected lawmakers. Cost me $162.60 for the inspection, which I believe has to be done yearly in my case.

Things were OK and no pumping required. If pumping were needed then that would have been a few hundred dollars more, of course. Come to find out when I receive the formal report from the septic inspector it’s going to cost me an additional $62 to file it with Island County.

Here are a couple of things that stick in my throat. For the sake of a few (bad or failing septic systems in Island County) the masses suffer. I could inspect my own system yearly, but I am in what is called the Penn Cove catchment area, which means my system has to be inspected yearly by a certified inspector. I live in Harris Custer, not Penn Cove. I am a senior citizen and was looking forward to the additional $250 in my Social Security check as part of the president’s stimulus package he signed in early 2009. Well, I guess you know what most of that $250 will be used for. I sent an email to our three commissioners with a copy to our 10th District representative, but didn’t hear back from any of them. I don’t think they care one way or the other about us seniors. Even gave them my telephone number in case they wanted to call and talk to me about it, nothing there either.

All the senior citizens out there should be calling, writing and raising the roof on this situation. Take the $62 filing fee times the number of septic systems in Island County, where is all that money going?

Skip Augle

Oak Harbor