11-14-1995 Council Packet Special Meeting

Home Browse Search

• •//v/x? ccey ciry CT^ Memorandum TO:Webber Kills Homeowr.ers FROM:Tom McC—"c DATE:Septemu?r6. 1995 SUBJECT: Septic Svsie;n/?vlunic:pal Server Issue- An informational meeting for ail neighbors was held at our home on May 17. »99o. to better understand the reasons %vhy the majority' ot the trench-t%pe septic s% stems .n Weboer Kills have been deemed non-coniorming over the last year and mound-type systems are bein2 required immediately tor anyone who sells their property' or obtains a buildins permit and for essentially everyone in the r’rea by the end of 1996. Our neichborhood initiated this meeting with the City ot Orono officials, which was the tirsr of its type. Subsequentlv. all 9 other Orono neighborhoods have had similar meetings, which were all held at the Orono city oftices. Our meetinc was attended by Diann Goetten. Orono CikV Council Member, and die inibrmational portion %vas led by \Iike Gatfron, Assistant Zoning Administrator. .A, packer of materials was distnbuted by .Mr. Gaf&on iOentify'ing various priority areas (neighborhoods) in Orono for city sewer. Ke indicated that a -rypicar mo-and syste.m would cost 57.000 - 510,000 while city sewer is estimated at S13,9SO/household (assessed at an average of approximately 51,100/year over 15 years) plus an initial hook- UD cost of 52.000 - 54,000, plus a quanerly sewage use/maintenance fee. * Tne additional enclosed packet of information, which is more complete and descriptive than the information distributed on \Iay I /, explains the teenmeal issues involved. This packet was recently prepared for the Foxhill and Bay Ridge neighborhoods. Tne initial parar.c ‘r and primary’ reason for our meeting was the premise that we would ail be required t ' install mound-type septic systems and then pote.ntially stUl incur all of die attendant costs of city sewer relatively soon thereafter. Tne second maior concern was the fact that the requirement for the mound-type system would result in a gre'.' majority ’ of the trees being cut down in the area and 35 large ugly systems would be inTtalled, essentially ruining the visual character of the neighborhood and decreasing property values for ail of us. As noted, nothing but grass can be planted on a mound system and the riser pipes remain exposed.