The Board of Septic & Well Appeals — three members appointed by the Clarke County Board of Supervisors — enforce the Code of Clarke County and Virginia Department of Health guidelines for wells, well sites, permits, and related projects. The Board hears appeals from property owners and makes decisions regarding applications for variances.

Membership is composed of five members including a member of the Board of Supervisors, a member of the Planning Commission, and three members of the public who are residents of the County.  There are two alternate members including one Board of Supervisors member who serves as the alternate to the Board of Supervisors representative, and one Planning Commissioner who serves as the alternate to the Planning Commission representative.

Current Members:

• David Weiss (Board of Supervisors representative)
• John Staelin (Planning Commission representative)
• Jenny Irwin, (citizen representative)
• George L. Ohrstrom II (citizen representative)
• VACANT (citizen representative)
• Bev McKay (alternate to Board of Supervisors representative)
• Randy Buckley (alternate to Planning Commission representative)

Board of Septic & Well Appeals meetings are scheduled as needed and held in the second-floor meeting space of the Berryville-Clarke County Government Center located at 101 Chalmers Ct. in Berryville, Va. All meetings are open to the public.

Find Clarke County Septic Ordinance in Chapter 143 and Well Ordinance in Chapter 184 of the Code of Clarke County.

The Health Department is required to permit all wells and on-site sewage systems in Clarke County. For information on these topics, go to Virginia Department of Health Environmental Health.

For more information contact:

Lorien Lemmon
Conservation Planner/GIS Coordinator
(540) 955-5134
llemmon@clarkecounty.gov