Committee approves 1 SFU reservation for McKethan Design Studio; reservation-fee timing to be reviewed

The committee approved a one-SFU (350 gallons per day) sewer reservation request for McKethan Design Studio, a commercial property at 8924 Stewarts Ferry Pike owned by Kurt McKeithen.

Christopher presented the request on behalf of the applicant and said the City of Lebanon reviewed the proposal; the county’s stated per-unit charge is $30,000 and the reservation fee for this 1-SFU request was presented as $3,000 (10% of the unit charge). Staff recommended approval. The property was described as Map 116, Parcel 108.01, approximately 22,500 square feet and zoned C-1 (commercial).

The nut graf: Committee members approved the commercial connection but used the discussion to flag a recurring operational issue — how reservation fees should be handled for businesses already in operation and whether the county should require a shorter payment window or specific deadlines for collecting the remainder of the fee on existing site plans.

During discussion (after the motion), members noted that requiring a 10% reservation fee on already-operating businesses can create enforcement and collection challenges if the county’s permitting leverage is reduced after an initial site-plan approval. Members considered options such as shortening payment windows (30 to 90 days) or requiring payment if an applicant is already operating. Christopher and others agreed to add language and place the item on the next agenda for more specific policy direction.

The committee voted and the motion to approve the 1-SFU reservation (with the $3,000 reservation fee) carried on the record; exact roll-call counts were not specified in the transcript. Christopher said he would add the reservation-fee timing language to the next agenda so the committee can consider a clearer enforcement mechanism.

The committee did not change its standard reservation terms at the meeting; it only directed staff to return with proposed language for future consideration.