01-13-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, January 13, 2014 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 17 (3. GREEN TREES ROAD SANITARY SEWER EXTENSION – RESOLUTION NO. 6358, Continued) Martini stated if the City elects to assess these costs to the benefitting properties; certain steps need to be followed. One option would be for the City Council to authorize the improvements by a super majority or, in this case, since the project was offered as a petition by the property owners, the City has acted to move forward with the project to this point based on that petition and requested a feasibility study be performed and plans and specifications be prepared. Notice of a public hearing for considering the improvements has gone out and the affected property owners have been individually notified. Tonight’s public hearing provides the public a chance to comment on the proposed improvements. Martini stated the next steps in the process are to obtain public comment, adopt a resolution ordering the improvements, approve the plans and specifications that have been provided, and then advertise the project for bids. The assessment hearing would be held prior to the project being awarded to ensure the property owners are still interested in moving forward with the project. Once the bids are received; an assessment roll would be prepared based on those bids and a contract awarded to the lower bidder. Martini noted the City would then levy the assessments and collect them either up front or added to the property owner’s property taxes. Martini stated with the assessment hearing being held ahead of the improvements, it is possible that the amount could go down but noted it cannot go up at that point. Levang asked if there is only one failing system. Struve indicated there is one system that is in noncompliance. Levang asked if all the property owners have now agreed to the project. Struve indicated five initially agreed to the project and that the sixth property owner has recently agreed to the project. Struve indicated all of the septic systems were installed in the early 1980s and all of them are reaching the end of their useful life, which is one reason why the majority of the homeowners opted for the project. Struve noted the property owner can hook up at a time of their choosing and that each property owner will need to install a pumping station at a cost of $10,000 to $12,000. Martini noted there are some costs that are associated with hooking up but those would not be due until the time of connection. Levang asked if any of the homeowners have indicated when they would be hooking up. Struve stated the one property that has the noncompliant system is for sale at the present time but they have the option of creating an escrow fund for those funds if the home sells prior to the assessment being levied. Levang asked what type of maintenance is required with a pumping system. Struve stated private grinder stations require fairly minimal maintenance. Some homeowners will pull them every so often to have them cleaned and inspected but many homeowners do nothing with them until they fail.