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City proposes study for Coesse sewer hook-ups |
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Friday, July 10 2009 |
The Columbia City Board of Works voted Friday morning to approach Bonar Group of Fort Wayne and ask for an estimate of the cost of a study to hook homes in Coesse to the city’s sewage system.
By TJ HEMLINGER
Staff Writer
The Columbia City Board of Works voted Friday morning to approach Bonar Group of Fort Wayne and ask for an estimate of the cost of a study to hook homes in Coesse to the city’s sewage system.
Outdoor operations manager Jeff Walker told the board he expected the study to cost from $25,000 to $50,000, but he added those figures were speculative.
He said the problem became evident when construction of the new equine hospital started and workers discovered several private residence septic “fingers” ran across the property.
“The (county) Department of Health required sewer lines be extended to those home,” Walker said. “We’re required to move forward with a feasibility study to extend city services.”
The city sewer lines already run to Coesse School.
Columbia City mayor Jim Fleck said, “It’s part of an ongoing process. It does not mean the city will pick up the bill (for the extension). There are grants and other resources available. We can approach the county with a request to participate. This is a study to determine what is needed. We don’t know what the requirements are.”
He said that it could be that the costs would be so great for the utility and the residents “the payback would be forever.”
Councilman Walt Crowder, a board member, said, “I don’t want to spend $50,000 and then decide we’re not going to do anything. To spend that kind of money and then not do anything, I have my reservations. I think there’s an alternative.”
Walker said even if the project moves ahead it would take “a couple years.”
Fleck said, “It’s all part of a huge question of how to approach this. The (sewage utility) is a business owned by the city. How are we going to serve (the people of Coesse)? We’re not saying how to pay for it or who pays it.”
Crowder said, “That’s a lot of money with the potential to be too expensive. I believe Bonar has that ability to give us a cost estimate. Our goal is to determine if it is feasible to do.”
Board member Roger Seymoure said that if the project is approved, hookup costs for residents would not be the same as everyone else but that monthly rates would be the same as anyone outside the city.
Crowder said, “There has to be a more economical way. Can the ratepayer afford the additional tap fee and the rate charge and can the city afford it? If it was feasible it probably would have been out there years ago.”
Fleck said, “We haven’t gone to anyone (to do the project). All we know is it’s going to be expensive. There probably needs to be other participants beyond the county, such as economic development and those that have funds. Once we get the cost (estimate) we’ll decide is it worthwhile to proceed.”
Seymoure said he understood Crowder’s concern but he wanted to look at Bonar’s estimate.
Walker said, “Let’s just move forward with Bonar and have them give us the terms.”
Crowder said, “I just want to try to determine if it’s a feasible thing to do.”
Seymoure said, “I don’t know what funds are available. At this point let’s go to Bonar and ask what they would charge for a study.”
The vote was 3-0.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, July 14 2009 )
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