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For plumbing permits, 1,866 were issued in 2010; 2,257 were issued in 2017, according to the database at Greene County Public Health. In 2010, 24 plumbing plans were reviewed, while 89 were reviewed in 2017, according to health records.
For new septic systems, 26 were installed in 2010, while 64 were installed in 2017, according to the records.
For food plans reviewed for businesses, 15 were looked at by the public health department in 2010, while 55 were evaluated in 2017, according to the records.
Jeffrey Webb, environmental health director in Greene County, said despite the increased development and demand for inspections and permit reviews, staffing levels have stayed consistent.
“Sanitarians have been challenged to keep up with the inspections,” Webb said. “What we’re trying to do is think of ways to be more efficient and use public money the best way we can without hiring people.”
Donald Shontz, public health sanitarian, recently met Roger Ferguson of Cedarville-based Ferguson Excavating LLC at a home under construction on Smith Road in Xenia Twp.
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Ferguson’s company had just installed a new septic and sewage system for the home, which sits on several acres surrounded by farms on a rural, country road.
Shontz said he’s been working as a sanitarian in Greene County for about five years and has seen the growth. He said there’s been a slight increase in recent years.
Shontz works mostly in the eastern part of Greene County, where the population is less dense.
“Looking at all parts of the county there’s a lot of growth overall … based on what other inspectors are working on,” he said.
Shontz inspects new wells, nuisance properties and does animal bite investigations. Others in the health department do inspections on food service, school safety and campground inspections to make sure they are in compliance with applicable codes.
“There’s always plenty of work to do in Greene County,” Shontz said. “The growth is more concentrated on the fringes of larger urban areas in the county.”
Ferguson said he’s been installing sewage systems for about 21 years, mostly in Greene County.
“Seems like (the growth) has been pretty steady, although some years are a little heavier than others,” he said. “There’s been a lot of growth since we’ve started. We’ve seen a lot of development in different areas … We’ve seen plats where there’s three acres or four acres to a lot and we’ve seen plats where there’s smaller acreage per lot.”
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