06-28-1999 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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. » Dear Webber Hills Area Residents, June 14, 1999 I am writing this letter in regard to the hearing about our sewer/septic issues at the upcoming City Council meeting on the 28th of this month at 7:00 P.M. This is a City Council Meeting. A decision will more than likely be made regarding the future of our sewer/septic issue, so regardless of your position on the subject, I think everj’one should attend. I believe we have all received the 2 letters sent recently, the one dated May 1st from an area resident(s), as well as the one from Greg Gappa at Orono about assessment charges for a potential grinder pump system After reading both letters, and especially the resident one, it raised some questions in my mind about how completely the issues were dealt with, and simply about what system might be best based on cost and practicality. The city had initially proposed a gravity flow system, which I think has been universally rejected. The May 1st letter I think it is fair to say praised the grinder pump system and criticized mound systems. My personal opinion is that the trench/mound private septic s>'stem has merit too. In the past few days I have made a number of calls to people who know waste treatment issues well (certainly better than myself), and have included the attached supporting documents and names and phone numbers where appropriate. I currently have a compliant, conforming mound system that has been trouble free for the 3 years I have lived in Webber HSlls. When we bought here it was for the schools and location. Having never had private well/septic system I knew nothing about them, only that the quality of the well water far outweighed any septic system concerns I had. Personally it would have made little difference had there been city sewer in making the house attractive to buy, and even less of a monetary difference. I don’t want to spend over $20, 000 for a system I don’t need (see below). My mound is 13 years old, probably the first one placed here, and may need to be replaced in 7 years(I’ll probably live here for 20). I’d rather have the mound re-graded or re-sighted than go the grinder pump route for the reasons listed below. You can see from the attached bona-fide bids for mound systems that both came in under $10,000 . Both compames are relatively close by, and are state licensed septic pumpers. However, realistically I think the cost would be at least $12,000 after engineering plans and other incidental costs are considered. Listed below are a few things that I found out recently about the issues: Costs Following are the approximate costs for the grinder pump system This is from both written (we all recewed) and verbal communication from Greg Gappa at Orono. • Basic Assessment: $ 12,000.00 (Puts main sewer pipe in yard along road plus (6.4.99 letter) connectioL stub on each property) • Grinder Pump Allowance $ 4,500.00 (City will allow you to finance the cost of the _______ grinder pump, a good one runs around $4000) A ssessment from Orono $16,500.00 The following are costs over and above the $16,500 city assessment that each property owner must pay. They come directly from the letter dated 6-10-98 by Greg. • Sewer AvaUability Charge S 1050.00 (This is a 1999 figure, one time charge) • Cost to hook up individual sewer lines to street main, abandon old septic. S 2-3,000.00 (I would bet on $3,000 plus) • City permit for connection S 35.00 Total Approximate Cost to Put in Giinder Pumps Initially is About S 20,0001,