HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996 - municipal sewer 40,04,
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CITY of ORONO
Municipal Offices
�G~ Street Address: Mailing Address:
Ira-0CW 2750 Kelley Parkway P.O. Box 66
Orono, MN 55356 Crystal Bay, MN 55323.0066
July 29,1996
Re: 2275 Webber Hills Road
To Whom It May Concern:
The Webber Hills neighborhood, including the above referenced property, is currently under
consideration by the City of Orono for installation of municipal sewer. The decision whether to
proceed with a sewer project has not yet been made,however. Such a decision will rely on a number
of factors including 1)approval of a Metropolitan Urban Service Area(MUSA)boundary expansion
by the Metropolitan Council, and 2) neighborhood agreement to proceed absent City financial
participation.
A neighborhood meeting was held in May 1995 at which City representatives discussed the pro's and
con's of continuing the use of septic systems,as well as the probable costs associated with municipal
sewer. The City Council had placed Webber Hills as a medium priority for sewer as compared with
nine other Orono neighborhoods, and had indicated it might be many years before the City was in
a position to financially assist in the costs of a Webber Hills sewer project. However, the Council
suggested it would consider going ahead with such a project if the neighborhood was willing to pay
the full cost.
Many of the Webber Hills area homeowners have septic systems which would need to be replaced
in the future with a'mound'sewage system at a cost of$8,000-10,000 each. The 1994 estimated cost
for municipal sewer was approximately $13,800 per unit. In October 1995 the City was informed
that 28 of 34 residents would support municipal sewer at full cost,under the presumption they would
not have to replace their septic systems until sewer was available. Those who indicated they would
not favor sewer were generally the residents who have recently replaced their systems, typically to
meet rigid mortgage company requirements at the time they purchased their properties.
The City Council has not formally reviewed the responses from Webber Hills or from the other nine
neighborhoods under consideration for sewer, and will not do so until the Metropolitan Council has
approved the MUSA expansion. The MUSA expansion was applied for in January 1996 and is
expected to be approved as soon as sewer system capacity issues are resolved,which we expect will
occur within the next few months. Then, perhaps this fall, the Council is expected to review the
Telephone (612) 473-7357 • FAX 473-0510
neighborhood responses to determine which projects will be commenced and establish a schedule
for construction. This determination would be followed by assessment hearings prior to actually
ordering construction.
Technically, there is no 'pending assessment' for the Webber Hills area. The estimated sewer
assessment of$13,800 per unit is subject to change. Assessments are generally spread over 15 years
and payable annually with the property taxes. The City generally assesses on a unit basis rather than
on a front footage or area basis, hence one home would be assessed one unit.
Please feel free to contact me at 473-7357 if you have additional questions.
Sincerely,
Michael P. Gaffron
Asst. Planning & Zoning Administrator