6.2. SR 01-09-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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ITEM 6.2 MEMORANDUM . - 1,V~~` TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Justin Femrite P.E., City Engineer DATE: January 9, 2012 SUBJECT: Review of Costs Associated with Private Utility Service Line Repairs This memo discusses a proposed option for private property owners to address costs associated with the installation, repair, or replacement of private sanitary sewer or water service lines. Over the last few years, it has been increasingly difficult for private property owners to make required repairs to their private service lines. Chapter 78 of the Elk River City Code details that both the sewer and water laterals are owned and to be maintained by the property owner. Such responsibility includes repair or replacement of any portion of the service line from the mainline sewer and water pipes in the street, continuous to the home or business. The repairs we have recently seen are generally unplanned emergency repairs that need to be completed by the property owner within a few days to ensure the safety and health of the public. One example of such a repair, could be a leaking water service found beneath the street that, if it were to go unfixed, could cause damage to the public utilities, roadway, and cause contamination of the public water system. Another example is if the city changed the configuration of the public sanitary sewer system and failure of the property to properly connect to the new system would cause sewer to be discharged in a manner that would cause a public health hazard. Staff has explored the idea to allow for assessing the costs of the service line repairs to the private property to assure the health and safety of the public. Working with the city attorney and the director of the Elk River Municipal Utilities, we have prepared the attached draft ordinance amendment and agreement that would allow assessing the costs for required sewer or water service line repairs. The agreement would allow for the property owner to obtain quotes and hire a contractor to complete the required repair. Upon completion, the city would, on the property owner's behalf, pay the contractor the agreed price of the repair. These costs would then be levied as an assessment against the property in accordance with Minnesota Statutes Section 429.101 at a set interest rate for a term not to exceed 10-years. The agreement would give the property owner an option to quickly make a decision to complete the required repair, thereby assuring the safety of the public. PowEeco er A~~