Variety of duties swamps chief of environment

By JOSH ZIMMER

© St. Petersburg Times, published August 6, 2000

Citrus County environmental manager Jim Rashley is in familiar surroundings. He moved here in 1972, when he was in sixth grade, and spent 18 years in the county before embarking on a career in public health.

Rashley graduated with a bachelor of science degree in engineering technology from the University of Central Florida. After six years as the environmental manager for Hendry and Glades counties, he is taking on an even greater challenge in fast-growing Citrus.

Rashley, 39, oversees a division of the state Department of Health that enforces septic tank codes, as well as state rules governing small commercial drinking water systems, tanning facilities, rabies, food sanitation and underground storage tanks. He is married with two children.

He sat down recently with Citrus Times reporter Josh Zimmer to discuss his current job.

Question: Are you enjoying the work?

Answer: "It's been a real challenge. This office is probably four times as busy. . . . I've got rock, I've got limestone. We've got some of the highest places in the state. So when I do septic tanks, it really covers the code from A to Z. We're looking to do almost 2,300 (septic tank) permits this year. You're not going to find any county this size doing that many permits. There's not a day people are not upset about something."

Q: What challenges are you facing?

A: "We're just kind of short staffed. We're in the process of fixing that (with the hiring of two environmental specialists and one environmental supervisor). So that's going to help us serve the community better. When I got here, we were a little slow in getting permits out. We'll be able to get to things quicker. Sewer (problems) are something I pretty much insist on getting to the first day."

Q: The state Department of Health, along with the state Department of Environmental Protection, is being sued by some Chassahowitzka property owners for allegedly neglecting water quality concerns there. The suspected culprit is faulty septic tanks.

A: "If you look around the state, any waterway system's being looked at. We cringe when there are really small lots next to the water. Having central sewers in doesn't bother me a bit. It's welcomed. (But) right now it probably wouldn't be advisable," because many county residents still live in remote areas."

Q: Can modern septic tank systems work as well as central sewers?

A: "If you're putting into a septic system what you're supposed to . . . it can come very close to a treatment plant."

Q: You mentioned the state recently has handed environmental health divisions a bevy of new responsibilities, such as enforcement of regulations on body piercing, chicken encephalitis and beach testing. How do you keep up with your duties?

A: "Anything that can possibly harm the public we look at very seriously. We really would like to get more into education but it's kind of hard unless you have the staff. A lot of things people do wrong they just don't know. Most people are going to comply the first time you go out. Q: Do you feel connected with the community?

A: "I can't believe how many people are still here. It's a great family-oriented community. I want to see it kept that way."

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.