Laserfiche WebLink
MINUTES OF THE <br />ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING <br />February 9, 2015 <br />7:00 o’clock p.m. <br />_____________________________________________________________________________________ <br /> <br />Page 11 of 26 <br /> <br />(7. #15-3714 CREATE SECTION 14-142 WELLHEAD PROTECTION ORDINANCE – <br />ORDINANCE NO. 135 continued) <br /> <br />Consulting City Engineer Martini stated one thing to consider is the financial piece of expanding the City <br />infrastructure. Martini stated it would be feasible to have that infrastructure if everyone hooks up. <br />Martini stated the City makes assumptions as to how many users there will be when planning the <br />infrastructure. Martini stated the property owner would not need to hook up now if they have a <br />functioning well but that at some point in the future they will have to if their well fails. <br /> <br />Walsh stated a resident can have a fair amount of money invested into a well. <br /> <br />McMillan stated in general most people want to hook up to city water and that the important piece of the <br />City Ordinance is wellhead protection to prevent contaminating city water and identify the areas that <br />impact the City’s municipal water and the aquafer. <br /> <br />Walsh stated the regulations for a new well are very specific and that if a well fails a person has to fill <br />them with cement and cap them. Walsh stated in his view this City Ordinance is taking away someone’s <br />rights to drill a new well. <br /> <br />Printup stated his hang up is the idea of forcing someone to do it. Printup asked if there is a provision in <br />the City Ordinance regarding a supplemental well. <br /> <br />Edwards stated that is another exemption. Edwards stated if the municipal water supply cannot provide <br />the adequate amount of flow or pressure for whatever that need was, then there would be an exception to <br />allow them to a supplemental well. <br /> <br />Council Member Cornick asked what the approximate hookup cost would be in general and what costs <br />are associated with capping a well. <br /> <br />Walsh stated to his knowledge it cost about $1,000 to cap a well five years ago because it has to be <br />certified and there are a limited number of companies that can do it. <br /> <br />Edwards said the State does have a grant program as part of the Wellhead Protection Program for capping <br />old wells. Edwards indicated he is not exactly sure what the City’s hookup charges are but that it depends <br />on the length of the line. <br /> <br />Cornick asked if it is more than $5,000 to hook up. <br /> <br />Martini stated it potentially could be and that it is site specific. Martini stated providing a shutoff and a <br />service line could make it cost over $5,000. <br /> <br />Cornick asked if there would be any sources of relief for a homeowner who had to hook up but did not <br />have the money for it. <br /> <br />Mattick stated one option would be for the City to assess the property if it is for a public project but that <br />typically the City does not act as a bank for private projects.