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Residents learn fate of sewer assessments
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - August 11, 2010)
Residents learn fate of sewer assessments
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Members of the City of Chardon's water and sewer committee sat down last week with about 15 Wilson Mills Road residents to iron out the final details of a plan to assist them with the costs of a sewer project.
A loan program, which will offer residents zero percent and 2 percent interest loans for their costs, will be the first of its kind offered by the city on an assessment project. The zero percent interest will cover sewer-line installation and water-meter costs, while the 2 percent will apply to all other costs.
City Council was scheduled to vote yesterday (Aug. 12) on recommendations from the committee for the loan program and the financial assistance.
The project affects about 20 homes and Chardon Baptist Church along the stretch of Wilson Mills Road, starting just northeast of the Hidden Glen development and continuing northeast. The project was completed earlier this year. Anticipated costs for residents are expected to range from $11,500 to $16,300.
The city has set Nov. 30, 2012, for residents to connect to the sewer line and anticipates beginning to offer the loans Sept. 1 of this year. Although an ordinance also requires residents to connect to available waterlines, city officials have agreed to waive that requirement for now.
The loan will be available only for the related sewer-work connections, not for connections to water service.
Payback of the loans will be done in quarterly payments that will be listed on a separate line item on water and sewer bills.
Residents asked for details on what work will be covered by the loan and how the loan will work, as well as questions specific to their properties.
John Sheehan, city planning and zoning administrator, said there is no loan proposed for interior plumbing work that may be done in the homes to accommodate connections to the sewer line. Those that need to reroute their drains from the back of a home, usually to a backyard septic system, will not get help to bring those lines to the front, he said. Residents should investigate whether its cheaper to reroute their interior lines or bring the sewer line to the back of their home, he said.
Councilwoman Leslie Bednar said, because taxpayer dollars are being used to float the loans, council does not believe it's fair to pay for interior work in homes.
Mr. Sheehan said the city originally had agreed not to loan money for a water meter and its installation, but have since changed that stance to allow for those costs to be included in a loan.
Those costs that will be covered, he said, include the cost of the sanitary-sewer permit, the purchase and installation of the water meter, the cost of the service lateral line, septic systems abandonment costs, and impact and tap-in fees.
In addition to the internal plumbing issue, Mr. Sheehan said, another cost to residents not covered by the loan is the use of city Engineer Douglas Courtney to consult on specific properties.
All administrative costs for managing the loan program will be borne by the city, Mr. Sheehan said.
Mrs. Bednar said the city does not make recommendations on which contractors residents should use for interior work, although the city does keep a registry of contractors working in the city.
Mrs. Bednar said the city will provide a check with the homeowner's and contractor's name on it once the work has been completed. She suggested residents get together in hopes of getting a price break with one contractor.
City Finance Director Jeff Smock said about 180 payments will be spread out over 15 years under the city loan program. He said residents can pay it off as quickly as they want, a situation the city would prefer to get its money back quicker.
Mr. Sheehan said homeowners who sell their the property before the end of the loan terms are required to pay the balance at the time of the sale.
Mrs. Bednar said the city is not doing credit checks, but will secure the loan.
John Pawlikowski, who parents reside at 393 Wilson Mills Road, said they face a unique situation because of a 400-square-foot cottage at the rear of the property. He said the cottage never would support a family living there, but there is the chance they could be charged double because the cottage also is hooked into the septic lines. "It is ridiculous if my parents have to pay twice," he said.
Council invited Mr. Pawlikowski to meet individually with city staff to discuss the situation.
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