Developer says sewer, water and storm costs make northwest McMillan subdivision infeasible; council considers options

Developer Jeff Hill updated the Marshfield Common Council on Aug. 12 about his proposal for a 16–17-lot subdivision near the northwest corner of West McMillan Street and Saint Joseph’s Avenue and said utility extension costs make the project financially unfeasible as currently configured.

Hill told councilors that engineering and easement issues make it difficult to connect to the nearest municipal sewer at Prairie Run: "The approximate cost to get it from Prairie Run to the border of the property I purchased is around $700,000 for the sewer system," he said. He estimated water extension costs at between $300,000 and $400,000 and stormwater work at "between $400,000 and $600,000." Hill said one required easement would cross property in the Town of McMillan and that the private owner there was unwilling to grant the easement.

Hill presented options he had considered, including private septic and wells or detaching the land back to the Town of McMillan, but said a primary municipal concern was fire protection. Marshfield Fire Chief Matthew Mueller explained the department’s operational standard for hydrants and water supply: "For hydrants, we want to try to have a hydrant every 600 feet... If we start going down a different road... we would be looking at multiple tenders... and that would be about a $300,000 to $600,000 vehicle," he said, and added a rough city-side buildout estimate of about $1.5 million to supply hydrants and related infrastructure to the area.

Councilors asked whether partial approaches — for example, installing public lines to the street or capping private lines for future connection — would be practical. Hill said running water and sewer lines from the house to the street "probably wouldn't be cost prohibitive" and that capping could preserve future options. City staff confirmed other alternatives had been explored, including a lift station, but said costs and property permissions were barriers.

Alderman Coran asked that the Jeff Hill subdivision be placed on the next meeting’s agenda for closed-session discussion; the council’s subsequent vote to adjourn into closed session that night included broader disposition and negotiation items. No construction approvals or permitting decisions were made at the meeting.