Government

Environmental Health Division

Supervisor: Hank Schreifels

Staff:

Food, Beverage & Lodging

Stearns County began administering the Food, Beverage & Lodging program in 1984. The County has a delegation agreement with the Minnesota Department of Health, which gives the County authority to administer these programs. County staff issue licenses, conduct plan reviews of facilities, and perform yearly inspections of each facility located in the County. Those facilities located in the City of St Cloud are the responsibility of the City Health Department. County staff also investigate any reported food-borne illnesses that may occur in the County, with the assistance of the Public Health Division of the Human Services Department.

• Jane Knott covers Waite Park south of Division Street.
† Lowell Rushmeyer covers the Community Center and the Church\School in Freeport and Waite Park north of Division Street.
‡ John Tracy covers Ackies, Charlies, Corner Pub in Freeport and Hilltop in Paynesville.

Household Hazardous Waste

In 1996, Stearns County implemented the Mobile Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) program.  The mobile unit makes stops in locations throughout the county for convenient Household Hazardous Waste disposal.  The program  has expanded to include communities within several neighboring counties.  Currently the program operates out of the Stearns County Household Hazardous Waste facility in Waite Park, which opened for business in February of 2012.  The facility allows for HHW drop off and is the regional waste disposal location for Very Small Quantity Generator Businesses.

Visit the Recycling & Waste Disposal Page for disposal opportunities. 

Lead

Stearns County is responsible for conducting lead risk assessments for cases of elevated blood lead levels in all areas of Stearns County except the City of St. Cloud as required by Minnesota Statues 144.9501 - 144.9509.

Contact Dave Knafla for more information.

Solid Waste

Stearns County is responsible for the proper collection, transportation, and disposal of all solid waste that is generated in the County. County staff issue licenses to and contract with solid waste haulers, administer the SCORE funding program, and the burn barrel program.

Subsurface Sewage Treatment Systems

Stearns County began administering the Sewage Treatment program in 1972 through the adoption and implementation of the State Rules. It wasn’t until 1984, when the County became the Public Health Authority via MN Statute 145A, that full jurisdiction over septic systems was gained.  Later, in 1998, Stearns County adopted Ordinance #198 regulating sewage treatment within the County, and in doing so also adopted by reference MN Rules, Chapter 7080, and successor rules.

With the newly adopted revisions to the State Rules that govern the regulations concerning SSTS, Stearns County has updated Ordinance #422 to reflect needed changes to stay in compliance with the State Rule.  Adoption and implementation of the new ordinance became effective on April 13, 2010. 

Currently county staff conduct soil verifications during the design process with designers, review plans submitted for permitting, issue permits, and conduct as-built inspections of new installations.

SSTS designs, compliance inspections, and information requests may be submitted electronically by emailing Stearns County SSTS.

View Subsurface Sewage Treatment System Program annual reports.

 Read the latest copy of the ESD SSTS newsletter Looking Down the Pipe.