01-27-2003 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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I Request for Council Action continued Page 2 of 4 January 27, 2003 North Long Lake East Sewer Extension was SCI at $19,000 in 1997. Sewer connection fees arc adjusted for inflation on an annual basis resulting in 2003 connection fee of $22,085 for the North Long Lake project. These connection fees are normal ly charged for properties within the project area that connect to sewer at a later date. The property owner for 1405 Sixth Avenue North, which is located adjacent to the North Long Lake sewer project, has sent a letter to the City requesting sewer. The property owner is remodeling and enlarging the house which requires replacing the existing noncon forming septic system or connecting to sewer. Sewer installation for this new neighborhood will be via a connection to the existing North Long Lake sewer system. In initial discussions with the property owner, he was told that getting sewer would require payment of the current connection fee of $22,085.00 plus the costs to extend a pressure sewer from the end of the existing sewer to his property which is a distance of about 200 feet. The property owner, John Crottcau, raised concerns about the fairness of paying the $22,085 connection fee plus the costs for extending sewer to his property based on the fact this fee is normally used for properties within the project area that have a sewer across or along the street in front of the property. He submitted a letter requesting that the connection fee be credited the amount it co.sts to extend a sewer connection stub to the property in a reasonable location for hookup as if the property was in the sewer project area. Another issue for consideration is that the North Long Sewer connection fee was for gravity sewer service to the property, and his property will be served by a pressure sewer system. This reduces the value of the sewer because the property owner is responsible for the purchase, installation and maintenance of his own grinder pump station. Our staff opinion is that Mr. Crottcau raises a legitimate issue in his letter that merits consideration by the City. Consideration to the property owners comments are addressed in the next section. East North Long l.akc Sewer Project - Phase I 1 he 2000 MUSA expansion area, south of County Road 6, along the northeastern shore of Long Lake contains 10 homes between the east end of the existing North Long Lake sewer and East Long Lake Road. This area can logically be divided into two separate areas for possible sewer projects as there is a distance of 1,000 feet and a creek and a large wetland separating the areas labeled A and D on the attached aerial photograph. Sewer would have to be extended across area A before Area B could obtain sewer, but Area B should logically be considered a separate project with its own project cost and unit assessments or connection fees.