The county said in a statement Monday it's willing to work with property owners and emphasized it has never demolished a home for non-compliance with the health code. In addition, there are ways to comply with the code without installing electricity, it said.

"There are safe options for outhouses that have been presented to the families and that the county itself has implemented for facilities in county parks," the county said.

The health department first received complaints in 2015 from county residents about the unsanitary disposal of sewage at Medina Township properties. The county said it has educated property owners on health code requirements and discussed options for compliance.

None of the property owners has agreed to a compromise, county officials said, and additional homes have been constructed in the area in the past four years.

"We've let those property owners know that they have options available to them that do not impact their beliefs," Marshall said. "Even now we're willing to work with them to meet the objectives of the environmental health code."