HomeMy WebLinkAboutRe: assessment/sewer connection � . , .
October 10,2000
Deaz Project Area Resident;
Subject: Assessments and Sewer Connection for Webber Hills Area Sanitary Sewer Project
Project Assessments
At the May 8, 2000 assessment hearing the assessment amount for your property was set at $9,500 for
installation of the sewer up to the connection stub at the property line. The assessment interest rate was set at
8.00%per year. Project construction is substantially complete,and the assessment has been revised to reflect
actual construction costs.The bond sale to finance the project has been completed,and the assessment interest
rate will be lowered to 6,25%.This is the same interest rate for other sewer projects over the past several years.
The City Council, at its October 9, 2000 meeting, amended the assessment roll for the Webber Hills area
sanitary sewer project tm reflect those changes as follows:
1. Assessment Am�unt and Time Period.
The final assessment amount adopted for your property is 7 250.The assessment will appear on yuur
2001 tax statement and is for a 15-yeaz period
2. Interest Rate. .
The interest rate applied to the assessment is 6.25%.
3. Initial Prepavmept Period.
The final date for full or partial prepayment of the assessment without interest is Wednesday,November
8.2000. The City can accept a full or partial prepayment of the assessment through November 30,2000
however, any pr�payments received between November 9, 2000 and November 30, 2000 will incur
interest from October 9, 2000 through the date of payment.
4. Future Prepavme�nt Periods.
Beginning in 20p1, and every year thereafter,the remaining outstanding assessment may be paid off
in full before No�vember 15�',or interest will be charged through December 31 of the next succeec�ing
yeaz.
Senior Citizen Deferral
Owners of homestead property who are 65 years or older may apply for a deferment of the special assessment
if they meet the criteria set forth in City Council Resolution#2864.
Sewer Connection
The information below is a summary of information that was provided in a letter several weeks ago. The new
sewer system is now available for connection by property owners. The property owner is responsible for the
sewer connection between the service stub,at the property line,and the house. The sewer connection must be
completed by a licensed plumber, and the plumber must obtain a City sewer connection permit before
beginning work on the sewer connection. The connection permit fee is $35.00. The City does not make
recommendations on specific plumbers to use for sewer connections. It may be prudent to obtain quotes from
several contractors for this work and to also verify contractor references and previous experience.
The Sewer Availability Charge (SAC) must be paid to the City before the plumber can be issued a sewer
connection permit. This SAC fee is submitted by the City to the MCES(Metropolitan Council Environmental
Services) and helps finance the cost of the reserve capacity built into the MCES sewer interceptor system for
new connections. The 2000 SAC fee is $1,100 and this fee has been increasing by $50 each year. The SAC
fee must be paid in the same year that the sewer connection is completed.
The City policy for the time frame for connection to sewer was recently changed.The previous policy required
sewer connection within 16 months after sewer became available. The new policy is that sewer connection has
to be completed at the same date that a nonconforming septic system would need to be replaced. This policy
change was made so as to not force residents, in neighborhoods with newly installed sewer systems, to
discontinue use of a nonconforming septic system any sooner than property owners without sewer. The time
frame for replacement of nonconforming septic systems has also been changed to December 31,2010 on a city
wide basis. In summary,the deadline for connection to sewer for properties with nonconforming septic
systems is December 31, 2010.
These recent policy changes do not apply to failing septic systems with surface discharge of effluent. Failing
septic systems must be replaced or connection to sewer completed within 90 days. The septic systems in
Webber Hills will still be inspected by the City and sewer connection will be required within 90 days for any
systems with surface discharge of effluent.
The existing policy of not allowing the expansion of nonconforming septic systems was not changed. Any
building permits for house additions that would require enlargement of a nonconforming septic system will
require connection to the sewer before completion of the building project.
Properties with conforming septic systems do not have to connect to sewer as long as the systems remains
conforming.Minor maintenance such as pump replacement can be completed,but if the system requires major
repairs, or enlargement connection to sewer will be required at that time.
Grinder Pump Requirements
The grinder pumps installed will be required to meet certain operating�parameters to function adequately
with this system. The�previous letter included product literature on two brands of grinder pumps that will
work with this pressune sewer system. There may also be other brands of pumps that will work, and another
approved equal pump that meets the required "pump curve" operating conditions may also be installed. This
information was included for you to provide to your plumber. The plumber will need to provide the City
information on the type of pump used when obtaining a sewer connection permit
Thank you for your assistance in this matter. Please contact me at 952-249-4621 should you have any
questions.
Sincerely;
�i����
reg Gappa
Director of Public Services