Want to Connect? Pay Up

If the city can't assess the Northern Township properties that will benefit from city sewer and water utilities, they can apparently charge a connection fee equal to the proposed assessment. You may recall that annexation has been delayed for two years in order to settle the Birchmont Drive assessment process. Northern Twp is in the process of re-assessing all the affected properties because of a lawsuit challenging the original assessment.

The council will be asked to act on a resolution setting the fee for the affected properties at their meeting Monday (3/15/10). From the City Engineer's memo in the packet:

There is nothing prohibiting the parcels that are involved in the court case from connecting to the city sanitary sewer and water. If they do wish to connect, they should be required to pay a City Connection Fee, so they are not receiving the benefit of the system for free, while the other property owners are paying their assessments.

The connection fee would only apply to the parcels that have not been assessed for the project. Many properties have already hooked up because of failing systems. The proposed connection fees:

• Sewer only: $13,390
• Water & sewer: $20,315

Who says their aren't any creative ideas coming out of city hall?