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3. Request from Michael Seaman for Sewer ConnectionAGENDA ITEM 3 - REQUEST FROM MICHAEL SEAMAN FOR SEWER CONNECTION 405 EAST COTTONWOOD BACKGROUND/CONSIDERATION: Mr. Seaman has recently purchased the property at 405 East Cottonwood and desires to be hooked to the Evergreen Sewer System. I have enclosed the analysis and recommendation from the Public Works Director. RECOMMENDATION: I concur with Jim Hansz's analysis, concerns, and recommendation. I do not believe that a parcel with a working septic system should be a viable candidate for sewer service. As pointed out in Jinn's report, it will be very difficult to control the "service line" and prohibit future hook ups to the line to serve other parcels or users. ACTION REQUIRED: To approve this request, we should have the annexation waiver, etc. Mr. Seaman has been informed of this but we have not yet received them. A motion would be in order to either approve or reject this request. MEMORANDUM March 11, 1998 To: Clarence Krepps, City Manager From: Jim Hansz, Director of Public W rks Subject: Sewer hook-up request, 405 East Cottonwood Background: The Interlocal Agreement between the City and Evergreen provides for the extension of sewer service beyond the boundary of the Evergreen district and outside the City. Connections may be made to their system provided the applicant receives the consent of the City for this connection. In addition, the applicant must file a waiver to protest annexation, consent to withdraw from the fire district and meet any other requirement of the City which has in the past included a specific petition to annex to the City. Request: The owner of 405 East Cottonwood has asked for City consent to connect a functioning septic system that lies outside the boundary of the Evergreen Sewer District to the Evergreen main. This would involve about 400 feet of service line that would cross several parcels to reach the house. No petition to annex, waiver to protest annexation or consent to withdraw from the fire district accompanied the letter of request. The letter of request specifically indicated no problem with the function of the existing septic system. Review: Based on what was stated in the request, there appears to be no current problem to be solved. The existing septic system is in the flood plain but this is common to many areas of the valley and alone is not necessarily indicative of a problem. Several potential problems could be created for Evergreen and the City by granting the request. A service line of this length would be extremely difficult to accurately install and to maintain. The sewer would need to cross several other parcels of land to reach the site in question, therefore, easements for installation and maintenance would be necessary. A service line of this length would amount to a de facto main extension which might require review and approval by MDEQ. I believe MDEQ would require assurance of which public agency would be responsible for this main. Such an extension would not be one the City could effectively maintain, and in my opinion, neither would Evergreen since it would be outside their boundary. The extension would be a private main which would be outside the Post Office Box 1997 • Kalispell, Montana 59903-1997 Telephone (406) 758-7700 • FAX (406) 758-7758 control of Evergreen and the City. This would make the sewer main an attractive "loophole" improvement to make other uncontrolled connections if the adjacent parcels develop with houses or businesses. A portion of the surrounding land is presently used for a nursery and so long as that style of agricultural use continues there would be little likelihood of other connections to the sewer service line. However, should the surrounding land uses or zoning change then unauthorized connections to this long unregulated sewer line would be extremely difficult to prevent. It appears there is no problem -driven reason to encourage this connection outside the District's boundary and beyond the City's direct control. In my opinion several problems and potential future problems would be created if this sewer extension is made. With these thoughts in mind I researched recent Council decisions on similar matters concerning out -of -City connections to sewer: • When an existing septic system has failed, and a sewer main presently exists, the City Council has supported connecting the failing system to City sewer to relieve the current problem. (Greenacres) • When the proposal is to develop additional lots and then connect those new lots to sewer, and no sewer main exists but would have to be installed, the Council has refused to approve the extension. (Hammerquist) Costs also are a significant consideration. Fees to Evergreen would be required, the amount I do not know. City connection fees for this "service" would be $2,047.50, plus a $10.00 permit fee. Construction costs for a typical service connection can reach $8,000.00 depending on specific conditions. A water meter will be required to account for the monthly sewer use charges. The cost of a service line nearly 400 feet long would be substantial to the applicant. In addition to these costs, the City will incur additional costs to maintain this account and read the meter. Recommendation: I cannot recommend installation of a service line of this extreme length, which would be readily available for additional use beyond any City control, particularly when there appears to be no problem with the existing system and no benefit to the City. A copy of the request and a location map are attached for your information. March 9, 1998 Clarence Krepps City of Kalispell P.O. Box 1997 Kalispell, Mr 59903 Dear Clarence, I am the new owner of 405 East Cottonwood. This property has an existing, functioning septic system and is in the flood plain. I am seeking city concurrence and approval that this property be hooked up to the Evergreen Sewer System. Thank you for your assistance and cooperation in this matter. Sincerely, Michael V. Seaman 907, /7-- . R W" G 2 42-'2 C"" n N o p m . ..� In y n I o I � IN p s n I / N N N CV O O Q ` ro J n z m N w � N ' �Y` m m L, w \ — — — — — — — — — — — — T N r5 N �) tD to Ln co co Q � I � � I rn � m IJ p O Q \i � N \ 0 a O Da OHYN638 \ m z i I GDP` I � n � d3 + Q N