Water & Sewer committee approves one‑off water tap exception, seeks cost estimates for septic conversions

Findlay City Council accepted a Water & Sewer Committee report on June 17 that included two substantive recommendations: a one‑time exception to the city’s water rules to allow a residential tap at an existing main in the Van Buren area, and development of high‑level cost estimates for five potential projects to connect properties still on septic systems.

The committee recommended waiving Section 5 of the water rules that would otherwise require the property owner to extend the waterline to the far end of the parcel; instead the city will allow the tap at the existing main and has the law director prepare a memorandum‑of‑understanding requiring the property owner to comply with the ordinary extension requirement if the parcel to the north develops in the future. Council accepted the committee report on a motion by Councilmember Russell and seconded by Councilmember Palmer.

The committee also reported on properties inside city limits still served by septic systems and recommended staff produce high‑level cost estimates and benefit summaries for five potential projects that could serve multiple houses at once. Committee members said these are conceptual cost studies intended to inform later decision‑making; specific funding sources and timelines were not provided on the floor.

Council asked several questions about the locations and whether the identified areas included West Park and specific streets; staff said the five projects are in multiple areas across the city (southeast side, north side and central neighborhoods) and do not include previously addressed projects on Newell Street and Tappan Street. The committee report was adopted by voice vote and filed for the record.