item ~_. l F'r~or~ress report on P~.~blic Comm+_inicatians for C.nvironmental Health Department. ~ presentz~tior~ was made by i~1r. David Vinyartd oi~ Fact Sheet, f-•~r~ess Releases, KCEI'HD Report Car-•d, employee C~+_iideline, Client Letters, and Slide Presentation. The Co+_~rt overall was very satisfied with the presentation giuei~ and feels that 1+'fr-, Vinyard did a very pooci .job. CC~MMISSIONE'~S' COURT AGENDA i=~=0_ UEST_ * PLEASE FURNISH ONE ORIGINAL AND FIVE COPIES OF THIS REQUEST AND DOCUMENTS TO BE REVIEWED BY THE COURT ADE BY: ~~ ~. ~ L.'~.~ OFFICE: ~~ d• FETING DATE: ~ - ~2 ~ - SS TIME PREFERRED: ~ • ~ JBJECT: (PLEASE BE SPECIFIC): r'~ r-e~s /~ ~ c~ ~~~~-- 'c.~ ~'a,.,.s ., ~~ r, ~CECUTIVE SESSION RE9UE5TED: YES N O LEASE STATE REASON 5TIMATED LENGTH OF PRESENTATION: ~s- ~~ ~ . ERSONNEL MATTER -NAME OF EMPLOYEE: LAME OF PERSON ADDRESSING THE COURT: ~G ,,.~ ~/, ~ ~,- OG ~ ~~ ~, ~/~ me for submitting this request for Court to assure that the matter is posted in accordance ~ith Artlcie 6252-17 is as follows: Meetings held on second Tuesday: 12:00 P.M. previous Wednesday Meetings heid on fiursdays : 5:00 P.M. previous Thursday HIS REQUEST RECEIVED BY: HIS REQUEST RECEIVED ON: {II Agenda Requests wilt be screened by the County Judge's Office to determine if adequate formation has been prepared for the Court's formal consideration and action at time of :c `~ meetings. Your cooperation will be appreciated and contribute towards your request ~e~~.g addressed at the eciriiest opportunity. See Agenda Request Guidelines. KERR COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT 101 Spur 100 ~' °~~~ °c `~e` Kerrville, Texas 78028 (210) 896.6101 June 15, 1995 To; Commissioners Court From: David L. Litke, K.C.E.H.D., Dir. Subject: Progress report on Public Communications. Mr. David Vinyard will be addressing the court on what he has accomplished to date, concerning the Public Communications Project . /,>~~ David L. Litke Director mm/ Recycled Paper BRKCOE HALL advertising graphic design marketing STATUS REPORT CLIENT: KERB COUNTY E.H.D. DATE: 06/26/95 This report will abbreviate the description of activities undertaken by Briscoe Hail, Inc. in behalf of the Kerr County Environmental Health Department and Kerr County Commissioners Court. l .fact Sheet Revisions and typesetting completed. Printer to deliver by duly 1, 1995. (attached] 2. Press Releases Press releases have been written, revised and distributed on two occasions (attached). 3. KCEND Report Card May monthly report written, produced and submitted to the Kerrville Daily Times; accepted as a regular feature editorial box for the newspaper- (attached) 4. Employee Guideline Prepared as a staff bulletin and submitted in draft form to Commissioners Court today. (attached) 5. Client letters Letters written for real estate agents, installers, and holders of pending license applications to clarify status and intent of potential regulatory changes. 6. Slide Presentation Archive slides yet to be sorted and selected. 612 A Elm Street Kerrville, Texas 7$028 800.847.7876 • 210.896.1300 210.896.1303 FAX SEPTIC SYSTEM FACTS (210) 896-5101 For Homeowners, Buyers & Sellers 1. On-Site Sewage regulations for Kerr County ensure the quality of the Guadalupe River for us, our children and grandchildren. The regulations prevent public health nuisances and groundwater pollution. 2. Kerr County Regulations were written by Citizens of Kerr County, Kerr County Officials, Public Health Professionals, and Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission Engineers and Officials. 3. Kerr County Regulations are strict, but in fact more relaxed than many Texas Counties that have much less beauty than Kerr County- for instance, Dallas, Harris, and Tarrant Counties. 4. Failure to enforce our regulations could eventually result in intervention by State environmental agencies. 5. Meeting the Regulations is the responsibility of the property owner, not the real estate broker or agent. 6. Any sale of property with a septic system requires an application for inspection or transfer of the septic system license by the County- even acash sale. 7. Property of 25 acres and larger can be exempted from the regulations only if the septic system is not near the property line and doesn't affect the Guadalupe River. Sellers wishing to expedite the closing of a sale can help by starting the inspection and licensing of the property well before a sales closing has been scheduled. ~- ~ ,~1, ~l~"~,1 1 .~ ~~~, ~1 ~1'1'~~ `1~~~ 1~~+~,j~ ,1~~,1~~ Buyers who want to avoid delays should ask for copies of inspection and license reports early in the shopping process. 10. Please help Kerr County Environmental Health Department staff ensure that your sale or purchase is problem-free by making sure that: (a.) Applications are completely filled out, signed and appropriate license fees are attached. (b.) Be sure owners' and buyers' current addresses are included and accurate. (c.) Start early; allow time for an inspection and up to five days for results andllicense. ~~f"~31~11~~'~g ~~~~~ ~~~f'~f111~~ NEWS For More Information, Contact David Litke at 896-5101 Citizen Committee Proposals May Have Future impact On County Septic Systems, Regs Kerrville-Kerr County Commissioners Court here received recommen- dations from the Citizens Committee appointed to study changes to the County Septic System regulations. The subject of much debate and some con- flict, On-Site Sewage Facility Regulations were last amended in October 1992 following a series of public hearings and approval from the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission, the governing state agency. Appointed by the Kerr County Commissioners Court, the Committee began its analysis in December of 1994 and recommendations have been pre- sented by Committee Chairman, Charlie C. Diggs of Kerrville. Other mem- bers of the committee are Fred P. Cannon of Ingram, Commissioners Butch Lackey and Bruce Oehler, David Litke, David W. Large, George West, Thomas Myers, and W. A. Collins Jr. County Judge Robert Denson stated that Commissioners' Court will have several weeks of study to determine how the recommendations may be implemented, but added, " We sure don't want anyone to assume a change in regulations at this time. Only if Commissioners' Court votes to accept the rec- ommendations and sets a date for implementation will inspections and licens- es be affected by the proposals, and that's some point in the future" County Environmental Health Department Director David Litke echoed Judge Denson's appraisal, "We're very enthusiastic about the Committee's Recommendations and the positive impact they will have on Kerr County Citizens, but my job doesn't change at all until the court implements whichever portions they deem appropriate" ### ~l~~~f~l~fl~ ~~ l~~f~ll~~ (210) 896-5101 ~Ews For More Information, Contact David Litke at 896-5101 For Immediate Release: June 12, 1995 Judge Denson Discharges, Lauds Citizens Committee For County Septic Recommendations Kerrville-Kerr County Judge Robert Denson officially discharged and stated the County's gratitude for Committee service and recommendations presented to Commissioners Court recently. In service since December 12, 1994, the Committee presented recommendations that may ease tensions for septic system licensing in the future. Citizens serving on the Committee included Chairman, Charlie C. Diggs of Kerrville, Fred P. Cannon of Ingram, Commissioners Butch Lackey and Bruce Oehler, David Litke, David W. Large, George West, Thomas Myers, and W. A. Collins Jr. In part, Judge Denson thanked the Citizens' Committee, pointing out their unselfish use of their "...time, efforts and considerations... in behalf of every member of the community." While Commissioners Court is studying the recommendations, apublic hearing on recommended changes in regulations is slated for July 18 at 1:30 p.m. With the conflicts that have been created by septic system regulations, participation in the public hearing by all interested parties is urged by the Commissioners Court. ### ~~~~ ~~~~l~l~ (210) 896-5101 1;1 Septic System Licenses 52 New/1Zepair Septic System Permits 38 License Transfer Applications 30 Complaint Investigations 8 Total Animal Control Calls 70 Total Pet izegistrations 87 Dog Bites 9 Cat Bites 0 Confirmed Rabies Diagnoses 0 ~~3~~€~~~~"~~~~ STAFF BULLETIN ~e ~~~a~~~1 ~~~~~ ~~~~~t~~ (210) 896-5101 In order to improve communication with and education of Kerr County Citizens as it regards the operation of the Kerr County Environmental Health Department, we have initiated a public commu- nications project. The objectives have been regarded by the Department and Commissioners Court as necessary, desirable and worthy of our combined efforts to accomplish. While this is a very minimal beginning, we ask that everyone maintain a consciousness of public awareness, attitude and accep- tance. To a very great degree, this means viewing Kerr County citizens as both clients and friends. Make no mistake, the success of our careers in Kerr County depends on how well we serve the citizens. Our mission certainly is not to make everyone happy-that's not pos- sible-but in the fair and equal administration of our responsibilities, to offer responsive, courteous, factual service to the citizens. If the service can entail a solution to a citizen's problem, then our job is to reach that solution as fairly and expediently as humanly pos- sible. We must always remember that citizens may seek redress with County officials or the media, and at that juncture, we have little abili- ty to manage opinions about our service. Please observe the following guidelines as it regards the public and the media: 1. The only staff member designated to provide information to the press or broadcast journalists is the Department Director. Please refer all inquiries as quickly and courteously as possible. 2. Do not allow a mistake or conflict with a citizen (customer) to go its own course. Attempt reasonably to apologize and correct the cir- cumstance in the field, and notify the Department Director as quickly as possible. 3. Maintain the Golden Rule. If you were the recipient of a notice, or the caller with a problem or complaint, how would you want to be treated? That's the policy of this department, and you have permission to try to make people happy. 4. Don't let misinformation continue; don't be the source of rumor, gossip or conjecture. Especially, at this time, be sure that people under- stand changes to the septic system regulations are yet future. 5. Try not to engage in idle discussion about the department, the law, or County Government. As a loyal employee, you don't want to be misquoted about the quality of your job. Outside the department, if you have nothing good to say, please say nothing at all.