Council adopts ordinance to move forward on Southwest Quadrant septic-to-sewer conversion with $2 million grant

Pepper Pike City Council on Jan. 28 adopted Ordinance 25‑02 to authorize the mayor and administration to enter agreements needed to move forward with a septic-to-sewer conversion project in the city’s southwest quadrant.

City staff said the project covers about 88 homes primarily along South Woodland from Old Brainerd to Lander, with a pump station planned near the intersection of Kurzdale and South Woodland. The council was told the city applied in April and received notice from the regional sewer district that it was awarded funds; the district is providing about $2,000,000 toward an estimated total project cost of about $3,930,000.

John, a city staff member who briefed council, said the grant covers slightly more than half the project’s estimated total and that the project will include a connection-assistance component. “Part of this grant is the connection assistance, the $5,000 portion of it,” he said in council remarks recorded in the transcript.

Council members asked about the assessment to homeowners, permitting and timing. Council was told staff had not yet calculated a per-household assessment; the city expects to work with the health board on permitting and inspections so residents will not need to replace septic systems before the project. If the ordinance passed that night, staff said, the city would pass a resolution of necessity to begin design; design is expected to take about a year with construction likely in late 2026 or 2027.

Why it matters: The conversion would extend municipal sanitary sewer service to a neighborhood that now relies on septic systems and includes a sizable capital investment; it also reduces residents’ on-site septic maintenance and could affect assessments and engineering work on neighborhood streets.

Council action and votes: Council moved to suspend the rules and adopted Ordinance 25‑02 by roll call after discussion. The roll-call recorded unanimous yes votes.

Key details extracted from the meeting record: the grant award amount ($2,000,000), project estimate (about $3,930,000), roughly 88 homes in the project area, pump station planned near Kurzdale and South Woodland, connection assistance up to $5,000 per connection mentioned during discussion, expected design period of about one year and construction in late 2026–27 if schedule proceeds.

Next steps: Staff will proceed with a resolution of necessity to start design work, finalize locations and sizing for a new pump station, develop assessment estimates for homeowners, and coordinate permitting and inspection with the board of health.

Provenance: Discussion and vote are recorded in the Jan. 28 meeting transcript.