01-10-2000 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR JANUARY 10, 2000 ( #1) EAST LONG LAKE SEWER PROJECT -Continued presented to the residents at a neighborhood meeting held on December l'`. Kellogg explained that two options for sewer were discussed at the neighborhood meeting. A gravity sewer option with a lift station at an estimated cost of $31,000 per unit was discussed. The residents were not interested in this option because of the high cost. The other option presented was for a pressure sewer system at an estimated assessment of $13,900. For this option, the property owners are required to purchase, operate and maintain their own residential grinder pump station. For other pressure sewer system projects, the property owners were alto« -ed to include an allowance in the assessment for the purchase of their grinder pump station. If the residents decide to receive the $4,500 grinder pump allowance, the estimated per unit cost will be $18,400. He said there are some properties to the east that could be served by this system in the future. Kellogg said that six of the septic systems in this area are nonconforming to the 3 -foot separation rule, with three of these systems failing because of surface discharges or cesspools. He said that most of the lots with conforming septic systems had new septic systems installed during the time period when the new septic regulations were enacted, and before the final decisions on the new sewer projects were made. Jabbour asked if this is an elective project where the residents are asking the City to put the sewer in and, therefore, the residents will pay the full cost of the system. Kellogg said that is correct. • Mayor Jabbour opened the public hearing at 7:15 p.m. Dick Rinehart, 985 Old Long Lake Road, said he is concerned about the delay in making a final decision on this project and the maintenance of a grinder pump. Jabbour explained the history of the sewer regulations. Rinehart said he would like to clarify a statement made earlier that the residents are demanding the project; therefore, they should bear the full brunt of the cost. He feels the City should share the cost. Jabbour said the City has decided there are two types of projects that it will do. One type is where the City has no choice but to force a project on the residents. The City would only assess an amount they could justify as a benefit to the property. The second type is where the residents petition the City for a sewer. In this case, the residents are assessed the full cost of the sewer. Jabbour thinks $19,000 is a very justifiable assessment. He said that based on information he has gathered, future assessments in the two -acre zoning will be bet« een $20,000 and $29,000 for a sewer system. Page 2