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City staff begin outreach for Westridge local assessment district; sidewalk and sewer costs noted
Summary
Staff updated the council on planning and public outreach for a Westridge local assessment district (LAD) that would combine city-funded street work with homeowner-funded sidewalks and sewer laterals, with repayment over about 20 years.
City staff updated the Casper City Council on early planning and public outreach for a proposed local assessment district (LAD) in the Westridge neighborhood, describing the LAD as a partnership in which the city would complete capital work and property owners would finance private laterals and sidewalks assessed to their properties.
Why it matters: LADs allow the city to coordinate larger infrastructure projects (paving, water main replacement) while assigning the cost of certain private improvements to benefiting properties. Staff said the LAD model has been used elsewhere in Casper and can spread homeowner repayment over multiple years at a lower interest rate.
Tom Broward, who led the update, said the LAD portion for sidewalks and sewer services in Westridge was "around $350,000," though he apologized that he did not have committed figures for the paving, water and sewer replacement costs. Broward said a public meeting the previous Thursday drew about 20 residents and that attendees were generally positive about the project.
Broward explained that the city owns water service up to the curb stop, whereas homeowners remain responsible for sewer service up to the main; the LAD assessment typically covers sidewalks and sewer lateral replacement and is applied to the property on a repayment schedule, which staff said is a 20-year period at a reduced interest rate.
Councilors asked about contacting renters and absentee landlords; staff said they try to notify both tenants and property owners and that one property owner with multiple rentals attended the meeting. Staff emphasized the importance of broad outreach so tenants are informed even if they are not the party responsible for the assessment.
No formal vote was taken; staff said outreach and planning would continue and they invited councilors to send follow-up questions by email.
Looking ahead: staff will continue public communication and return with more detailed cost estimates and a formal financing plan if the project advances.
