How will the upcoming Lake Douglas East Sewer Extension affect me?

First of all, if you don’t live, work or regularly commute through the areas within the project, its impact will be minimal. However, for those that do, there will be some changes to your daily routine for a little while.

This project is a relatively large undertaking that is going to take about 18 months to complete. During that time, traffic in these areas will be impacted. We will do all that we can to minimize these impacts, but in order for the project to be successful, there will be a need for patience. Please work with us to help make this project as easy on everyone as possible.

Secondly, a common misconception is that the public right-of-way doesn’t start until the street pavement or curb. This is not the case. Most rights-of-way extend several feet past the pavement into most “front yards.” As a part of this project, there will be times when the construction leaves the paved area in order to be completed. Please understand that the city will do all we can to minimize the effects of this encroachment, but, again, patience and understanding will be necessary. If major infrastructure such as a driveway is removed to install the sewer lines, it will be replaced.

Finally, the costs of the project will be partially borne by the property owners that it impacts. The method for assessment will be the same as previous sewer projects. The city will pay the main components of the project and the property owner will be responsible for the cost of extending the sewer from the main line to their property line.

In addition to this assessment, the property owner is responsible for the cost of the sewer tap ($345), plumbing permit, and the plumbing cost to run the sewer line from the property line to the house. The assessment and sewer tap will amount to an average cost to the property owner of approximately $1,600 (not including the plumbing permit and the cost of running the line from the property line to the house), significantly less than the cost of a new septic system.

This project has the potential to be a tremendous asset to our community and will offer many citizens a chance to enjoy a benefit that many of us already realize. By working together, and exercising patience and understanding, we can continue to improve our town everyday. The city will be in regular contact and will use every medium available to adequately inform the public about the project and will hold public meetings in the near future.

If you have any questions about this upcoming project, feel free to contact Dustin Dowdy, the city’s director of special projects, at 248-2000, extension 122.

Sincerely,

Mayor Edward Reynolds