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Robert Bernstein, M.D.,F.A.C.P.
Commissioner
April 8, 1987
The Honorable Danny Edwards
Kerr County Judge
Kerr County Courthouse
Kerrville, Texas 78028
bear Judges Edwards:
AFR - 9 RECD
Robert A. MacLean, M.D.
Deputy Commissioner
Professional Services
Hermes L. Miller
Deputy Commissioner
Management and Administration
I am writing this letter in support of the Kerr County En-
vironmental Health Program administrated by the Upper Guadalupe
River Authority. For aevernl years, prior to 1981, Kerr County
had no established regulatory authority in any area of environ-
mental health. The U.G.R.A, regulated septic tank inatallationa
and other water pollution problems only within a designated dis-
tance from the Guadalupe River and some of its tributaries. The
rest of the County, with ell of its many environmental health
problems, was attended by.aenitariana from our regional office 1n
Uvalde. We tried very diligently to resolve those problems from
the remote headquarters here. Because of the distance and our
lack of continued presence, we were unable to do the lob ea
effectively as waa necessary.
Developers were opening subdivisions all around the Kerr-
ville urea and outside the U.G.R.A. )uriadiction. Environmental
health considerations were not being addressed during the plan-
ning of a large part of these subdivisions.
We ere having to face, even today, the corrective action on
problems that should not have developed. The many hours of
visiting with the people that put together a plan to provide a
county-wide environmental health division has paid o£f.•'
The U.G.R.A. presented its plan to the commissioners and
county fudge, and it waa accepted in 1981. Since that time the
U.G.R.A. Septic Tank Program has become the strongest and moat
effective in our region. In addition, the U.G.R.A. has done an
excellent fob abating nuisance complaints regarding solid waste
and other water polluting conditions. Through the U.G.R.A. Pro-
gram Contract with Kerr County, great strides have been made in
helping to reduce the "misery and woe" of thane unfartunete
people who bought the "pig in the poke."
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Texas Department of Health
Public Health Region 9

The Honorable Danny Edwards
Kerr County Judg®
Page 2

The commitment by U.G.R.A. to withhold final subdivision
plat approval until plans and specifications for public water
systems hnve been approved by this Department is doing much to
insure thnt subdivisions in Kerr County are developed with a
ass's end adequate water supply. We cannot ga backwards on this
programs
We have worked a long time with Mr. Lane Wolters, R.S.,
Environmental Health Services Director o£ U.G.R.A., towards
achieving these goals. We appreciate hia accomplishments end
continue to call on hia expertise to present programs et our
seminars held here in Uvalde and in Kerrville. Sanitnriana
from throughout our 21 county region ere hearing o£ Mr. Wolters'
experience on alternative and innovative on-site waste disposal
systems. He is a leader in this profession and he can best do
hia work there in Kerr County where future rapid growth is cer-
tain. Without a well established Environmental Health Program
in Kerr County the problems o£ the peat could re-emerge.
I recommend the Court's continued support of this program.
Please call if you need any additional help from me or other
representatives o£ this Department.
Sincerely,
~mond 8. Whitley, .E.,
Environmental and Consumer
Public Health Region 9
RBW/iw
Regional Director
Health Protection Div.
cc: Upper Guadalupe River Authority
Charles R. Webb, Jr., M.D., Acting pirector
Public Health Region 9
David M. Cochran, P.E., Associate Coramiasioner
Environmental & Consumer Health Protection
Texas Department of Health, Austin

Upper Guadalupe RiverAuthority
215 W. Water St.
I- P. O. Box 1278
Kerrville, Texas 78028
`-- ~ 512-8965445
20 November 198A
'ihe Honorable Judge Gordon S. Morriss
Kerr Cotmty Judge
c/o Kerr County Courthouse
Kerrville, Texas 78028
B.W. Bruns
General Manager
Re: Proposed Artendment To The Rules Of Kerr Cotatty, Texas For Private Sewage
Facilities.
Dear Judge Morriss:
At the November treeting of the Commissioner's Court Ipresented anamend-
irent to the County Septic Tank Order which would establish minimum lot
size requirements for multi-family dwellings and mobile home parks.
7n o~nsidering this arcendment, please keep in mind that at present we have
no guidelines for dwelling density within the County wastewater order. t+1e
have been working with a set of design criteria which are not well suited to
high density housing projects served by septic systems. The criteria can
be modified to reflect the standards in the proposed acrenciment. Hv,aever,
without being substantiated in the "Rules" these standards are subject to
challange.
We have, in past greetings, identified the problems that have arisen as
a result of no definitive standards for lot area requiretnts for multiple
dwelling projects. I have before rye six projects which are multiple dwelling,
and high density in wncept. I am requesting the you include the proposed
a:rendlrent to the Rules of Kerr County for Private Sewage Facilities on your
next agenda. If there is a possibility of calling an emezgency meeting to
address the proposed atrendment, it would most rertainly be appreciated.
Please call on ere if you have any grestions or if I can provide any further
information.
Sincerely, )
~~~ 1 ~~1. $Cq
Lw:kk Lane Wolters, R. S.
Water Quality and Environmental
Health
C~1QV ~rse~~pes
Robert Bernstein, M.D., F. A.C.P.
Commissioner
Robert A. MacLean, M.D.
Deputy Commissioner
Professional Services
Hermas L. Miller
Deputy Commissioner
Management and Administration
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41 ~~, , iR
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Texas Department
Public Health Region 9
P.O. Box 630
Uvalde, Texas 78801
(512) 278-7173
November 7, 1984
Honorable Gordon Morriss
Kerr County Judge
Kerr County Courthouse
Kerrville, Texas 78028
Dear Judge Morriss:
i i i - ~ /
of Health
Rodger G. Smyth, M.D., M.P.H.
Regional Director
The fast pace of subdivision development in unincorporated areas of
our Region has been a phenomenon that we have watched take place with
much interest and concern. Perhaps your county officials are experiencing
some of the same concerns we are these days in striving to ensure that
this new growth occurs with due consideration given in advance to its
many environmental impacts. We appreciate very much your past and
present cooperation with us in this regard.
While many factors of this new growth are of local concern only,
our Department has a vital interest in such provisions as drinking
water, waste water disposal and solid waste management. In these areas,
I think we share some common concerns that might be best addressed
through joint discussion and planning.
In this interest, we have asked to appear on your Commissioners
Court agenda for the meeting of December 10, 1984. At that time we
would like to discuss the new subdivision approval process presently in
effect in your county and how this might be utilized to address those
matters of environmental concern noted above.
We look forward to this meeting with high hopes for a fruitful and
beneficial discussion. Please let us know if we can be of any assistance
to you prior to this meeting.
Sincerely,
~ G(~/~~/J"~
ymond B. Whitley, P~
Regional Director of Environmental
and Consumer Health Protection
Public Health Region 9
cc: David M. Cochran, P.E.
Theodore R. Boyce, M.D.
NHF/mcc