Health board upholds septic company's ban

SANDUSKY — Father & Son Septic Services is still banned from providing its services in Erie County. The Erie County Health Department board's Tuesday vote to uphold the ban came despite a heartfelt plea from Logan Coon, the daughter of business owner James Coon. Logan told the board that a family-owned business that has been operating for decades should not be punished for years due to one mistake. Father & Son Septic Services, located in Wakeman, got into trouble in early 2024 after the Erie County Health Department discovered that it had been dumping raw sewage in a farm field. Since then, its activities have been restricted in Erie County amid local court battles between the two sides. Septic companies are required to get an annual license to do business locally. The health board turned down the company for three registrations: • To haul sewage from septic tanks, • To do maintenance and repair • To install new systems The board hosted a hearing Tuesday night on the company's appeal, asking the board to reverse its decision. During the hearing, the health department brought up a new complaint. Bob England, a health department official, testified that despite a 2025 ban on doing business in Erie County, Father & Son Septic Services was caught hauling sewage from a Lorain MetroParks facility in eastern Erie County. James pointed out that the customer was in Lorain County, and that's where he received his bill from. He then walked out minutes after the hearing began. But Logan, who described herself as James' daughter and a company employee, stuck around to have her say. "We are not here to pretend mistakes were not made," she said, admitting that it was appropriate to punish the company for the sewage dumping incident. But she said that a long ban on doing business was not fair. She pointed out that restaurants in Erie County that have been caught in safety violations have routinely been allowed to reopen after fixing their mistakes. At some point, the health department needs to allow for rehabilitation, she said. "We are not monsters. We are a family business," she said. Health board members deliberated behind closed doors, then voted unanimously in open session to continue the ban. Charles Murray, the board member who made the motion, said after the meeting he did not think the company had met its burden of proof.