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Some Perry Township residents on North Lincoln Avenue are being given a chance to hook into the city's northeast sanitary sewer line at a reduced cost.
The city Utilities Commission agreed Thursday to make the offer due to the results of a survey to gauge interest in the idea and to help alleviate a problem some residents are facing from failing septic systems.
According to the survey numbers, the owners of 15 properties said they wanted to connect to the sewer system and six said they did not want to connect. Another dozen gave no response, so they're being treated like a no vote. All but one of the 15 who want to connect favored annexing into the city as a group, with a smaller number favoring individual annexations and deed restrictions requiring them to annex into the city if their property becomes contiguous.
The commission sent the surveys out in June after Utilities Commission Chairman Robert Hodgson said some property owners had been asking about connecting to the system built to serve that area after being proposed in 2002.
Hodgson said in June considering the environmental concerns and the fact that there could be more than 30 households involved, they should at least check the level of interest.
Utilities Superintendent Don Weingart explained that when the Northeast Regional Sewer System was proposed, there were two annexations involved, but some in the area a little north of 14th Street out to 17th Street did not want to join. Responses to the new survey came from residents in the 1200 block up to the 1800 block
Those are the households being offered another chance to hook into the system for $8,500, which is a discount from the current $11,200 cost recovery and tap-in fee per household for that system.
The first time around, the commission paid part of the cost and each household paid a reduced rate. The cost quote only covers the cost recovery fee and tap-in. It does not include the additional cost a property owner will incur to install a line from the street to the house or any costs associated with annexing or putting a deed restriction in place.
As part of the deal, if a property is contiguous to the city, the property will have to annex into the city. If not contiguous, the property owner will have to include a promise of annexation as a deed restriction for when the property does become contiguous.
Property owners will be given a year to connect if they choose. Letters will be sent for interested propert owners to fill out an application.
"Financing options will be discussed," Assistant Utilities Superintendent Matt Hoopes said.
According to Utilities Superintendent Don Weingart, the city will contact Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson regarding some properties to the east of the project area that may be interested in getting sanitary sewer service since that area would be served by the county.
Hodgson pointed out that the cost to replace the average septic system is $22,000 to $24,000. Fellow commission member Randy Malmsberry said he couldn't understand why someone wouldn't want to hook in, explaining that not being connected could affect the ability to sell a home and a property owner could lose value on the home. The county has a rule about inspecting the septic system before selling a home to make sure it's working properly.
Weingart also said the discount will be a one-time offer.
mgreier@salemnews.net