Mathews supervisors decided during a meeting Tuesday night not to sign a lease yet for the former Seabreeze Restaurant because septic system issues have not yet been resolved. However, the board gave Building Official Jamie Wilks its approval for his issuance of a demolition permit so the tenant can remove old carpeting and wall coverings from the structure.

Wilks told the board that the septic system at the restaurant, which will be known as Hole in the Wall, is being analyzed and that the involvement of the state health department in the matter had slowed down the project. In addition, he said, the tanks couldn’t be examined because of rain. However, he said the system will be repaired.

County Administrator Mindy Conner said that the lease requires a cost share on septic system improvements in the future, but that the current issue will be completely the county’s responsibility. She said the county must provide the tenant with “usable, functioning infrastructure.&...