County Watch
by G. L. Penney

  On January 19 the Tioga County Legislature held its second monthly work session at the new Social Services building. I wasn't prepared for the emotional impact of placing my car keys in a plastic tray and passing through a metal screening device with the sheriff and a deputy watching my every move.
 Except for time spent in an "executive session" concerning negotiations with the representatives of the sheriff's deputies, most of our time was spent considering two issues. One was a proposal to have the county control the installation of all septic systems. The other issue was again whether to continue the position of county manager. We will probably settle the county manager issue at the next regular meeting.

 As to the county control of septic systems, I can only presume that the Health Department would be involved if someone allowed untreated sewage to flow on the ground. Such a situation occurred in my neighborhood many years ago, but the Town of Owego took care of the situation by building our sewage treatment plant.
 I have two chief concerns with the county's proposed plan: First, the plan would result in an additional layer of local government where the county has little, if any, expertise and where, I believe, no serious problem exists.

 Second, the planned application shows that the county would discourage improved systems by requiring a fee of $228 for alternative systems even though no actual county service would be provided. Were other counties to adopt similar regulations, New York State would continue to fall behind other states in septic system technology.