04-12-1999 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES FOR APRIL 12,1999 ROLL The Council met on the above - mentioned date with the following members present: Mayor Gabriel Jabbour, Council Members Charles Kelley, Richard Flint, and Bob Sansevere. Barbara Peterson was absent. Representing Staff were City Administrator Ron Moorse, City Attorney Tom Barrett, Senior Planning Coordinator Michael Gaffron, Assistant Zoning Administrator Paul Weinberger, City Engineer Tom Kellogg, Public Services Director Greg Gappa, and Recorder Lanette Wolf. Mayor Jabbour called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. ( #1) PUBLIC HEARING - ORONO ORCHARDS SEWER PROJECT, 7:02 p.m. - 7:25 p.m. Tom Kellogg presented the staff report. He described the scope of the project. He said part of the project will be directionally bored. Mayor Jabbour asked if anyone had a question regarding where the sewer will be installed. There were no questions. Greg Gappa stated that the City will need easements from some of the homeowners. The proposed project assessment is $16,000 per unit. This assessment was determined based on the increase in value to the property based on the installation of sewer. He has received one written objection. In order to appeal the assessment, the homeowner must provide a written • objection at the assessment hearing. Jabbour explained the procedure for assessing the cost of the sewer. If a project is made mandatory by the City, the City will attempt to subsidize the project. The assessment will be based on the increase in value of the property. He said there are always one or two people who object to a project. If someone objects to a sewer project, the City will opt to leave that homeowner out of the project. If that homeowner later petitions the City for sewer service, the homeowner will have to pay the full amount for the sewer. Jabbour stated that it has been very difficult to obtain contractors that will do directional boring. Jane Delaney, 1315 Woodhill Avenue, stated she is not opposed to the project, but it will cause her undue financial hardship and she will be forced to sell her home. Jabbour assured Ms. Delaney that the Council takes her situation very seriously, but the City's options are limited. He said that in the past the City has tried to obtain hook -up grants for homeowners that suffer financial hardship because of a sewer project, but the assessment cannot be paid through a grant. Delaney said she understands that she is on the outside perimeter of the project and she would opt to be dropped from the project. • Jabbour asked staff if Delaney could opt out of the project. Page 1