Hooper to weigh building its own sewer trunk line after West Haven seeks $35,000 in back fees

Hooper City leaders learned during a May budget work session that West Haven has asked the city to make up a roughly one‑year shortfall in “wheeling” fees for sewer service and that the long‑term fix may be for Hooper to build its own trunk line.

Finance director Cammy (first name in transcript) told the council that an interlocal agreement with West Haven, first signed in 2004–2005 and capped at 600 homes, technically expired in 2009. “We owe 35,000 some odd dollars to West Haven,” she said, adding that the city had not received invoices and that the last household count on file was 976 homes hooked into West Haven’s line. “At that time there was a cap on homes of 600, and we’ve now hooked in 972 homes… we owe 35,000 some odd dollars to West Haven.”

Why it matters: Hooper’s reliance on West Haven’s trunk line has helped neighborhoods in western Hooper get sewer service without Hooper installing its own main, but it leaves Hooper exposed to the service district’s long‑term maintenance and rate decisions. West Haven staff and Hooper’s public‑works staff told the council the existing trunk line is subject to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) corrosion in manholes and liners and receives frequent smell complaints; weekly maintenance has been required and manholes have been replaced or lined.

Main options discussed - Back pay the overdue wheeling fees and continue the wheeling arrangement: Cammy said West Haven indicated it did not expect Hooper to retroactively pay the share of historic repairs, but did want the overdue amount and said it would start sending…