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Annual sewer charges are also about $ 310 per year. <br />Other non -monetary considerations are as follows: <br />Since the letter of May 1st dealt with concerns about mound systems, I have some <br />concerns about a grinder pump system. <br />With a Grinder s>'stem, the force main will be in someone’s front yard on one side of <br />Shevlin and Webber Hills, 3-5 yards off the curb. I would guess that some pretty <br />heavy equipment is used for dredging and placing a pipe of that size below the frost <br />line, and that would not be kind to our front yards, not to mention the impact on our <br />two streets.What about the pipe that nms from the grinder to the street? Most <br />grinder pumps will be installed in one of the 2 or 3 existing septic tanks, which is in <br />everyone’s back yard. Again, imagine digging a trench below the frost line all the way <br />from the back yard to the front. I would bet that there are some trees or landscaping <br />that would be in the way. You could re-route your sewer out the front of the house, <br />but I wouldn’t even guess at the cost of that. Plus then you would have a grinder <br />pump to go along with your well head sitting in the front yard. <br />• What about the grinder pump itself? How much would it cost to repair/replace if it <br />jams or breaks (based on a new, good pump @ $4000)? On the oAer hand a septic <br />pump distributes gray waste water that has gone through 2 or 3 settling tanks, and is <br />not nearly as complicated. A private septic s>'stem in general is low-tech. <br />» Everyone in the area will be ultimately assessed for the cost of the grinder pump <br />system if it goes through. It is true that you can opt out if you have a <br />compliant/conforming septic system (33% in Webber Hills do). However, whenever <br />you decide to: A) sell your house B) refinance your house, (I confirmed A and B with <br />Harry Buseth at Bell.Mortgage) or C) voluntarily hook up, you will be assessed the <br />cost of the new sewer. Furthermore, every year you don’t coimect, the cost ofthe <br />assessment goes up reflective of inflation and interest on the bond money. I <br />confirmed the principle, not the costs with Greg Gappa at Orono. Last Summer the <br />rate on the bonds to be issued was approximate ^ **• ‘ 25 ^ !: you assume therefore <br />that fee inflation and debt service cost 8%/year, v fao decides not to hook up <br />until 10 yearsfi'omnowcouldpay $35,000 instead ofthe initial $20,000 ($16,500 x <br />8% X 10 plus the $5,000 to hook up to the street). <br />• No one will force us to hook up to city sewer if compliant/coiiformmg private septic <br />systems are kept. The people that know will tell you that an ISTS (Individual Septic <br />Treatment System) does a better job of treating household waste than does a <br />municipal sewage treatment plant, period. Treatment plants do the best they can with <br />high volumes of waste, then flush what ’s left where they can. It is true that the <br />MUSA line was expanded to include Orono in the mid 90 ’s, but only to afford the <br />opportunity to hook up if needed to municipal sewer. There have been Developments <br />(Le., Orono Orchards and North Long Lake) where lot sizes were simply too small ( <br />1/4 to 1/2 acre) to properly support private septic ( we are around an acre). They are <br />now on city sewer. However, Both the MetropoUtan Council and the Minnesota <br />Pollution Control Agency take no position officially on whether city sewer or private <br />septic is better for individual homeowners. You can talk to either Jack Frost at the