Contractor, Ash Creek seek townwide interest in new private sewer line

Paul Taylor, an independent contractor working with Ash Creek, told the Virgin Town Council on Dec. 30 that Ash Creek plans a phased private sewer installation that will reach parts of the town beginning near Lubbock and advancing down Water Street and up Mill Street.

Taylor said Ash Creek’s design work is under way and the company hopes to begin construction in the first quarter of next year, with phasing determined by the level of resident and business interest. He said the route would approach the town from the hill above town, pass the White Bison site and include a pump station near the bottom of that hill before coming into the downtown area along Water Street and Mill Street.

The presentation was intended to gather a “level of interest” from property owners. Taylor said he has been knocking on doors and reported “very positive” reception: he estimated roughly 90% interested, about 5% undecided and about 5% uninterested among those he has reached. He brought copies of a two-page, nonbinding letter of intent that asks for name, parcel ID, type of home or business and whether the owner intends to connect. Taylor said owners can return signed forms by text, email or in person and that Ash Creek hopes to collect responses by Friday of the week following the council meeting.

Council members asked specifics about the route, phasing and costs. Taylor said phase 1 is planned from Lubbock into the top of Mill Street and that a future phase could extend along SR‑9 and the highway corridor but that current funding and design limit how far Ash Creek will deviate from the planned route. He said the design in hand was driven in part by a grant/feasibility study Ash Creek received last year; changing the route to include additional neighborhoods could require redesign and new funding.

Taylor said Ash Creek recommended installing the sewer at the same time the town repaves streets and replaces water lines to avoid repeated excavation. He told council members Ash Creek expected to coordinate with the town and, where appropriate, contribute to road work if the sewer is installed simultaneously. He also said Ash Creek plans to use a single contractor to do the sewer and related street work where possible.

Council members and residents asked about connection costs, billing and whether property owners would be required to connect if a line passes in front of their property. Taylor said a connection fee of $3,000 was being discussed and that monthly service charges would apply after connection; he emphasized the letter of intent is not a legal contract and that only those who choose to connect would be billed by Ash Creek. Council members clarified that because this is a private line, town assessments for public sewer would not apply unless and until ownership or funding arrangements changed in the future.

Council direction and next steps: Taylor left copies of the letter of intent with town staff for distribution and said Ash Creek will compile returned forms and use the submissions to refine phasing. Councilmembers asked Ash Creek to provide final design plans to the town when they are available and to coordinate outreach to neighborhoods beyond the initial phase if feasibility and funding allow.

Clarifying details collected at the meeting include: the connection fee referenced by presenters was $3,000 (described on the letter of intent as the connection amount); Ash Creek’s target start window was described as Q1 of the following year; property owners were asked to return signed nonbinding letters of intent by the Friday after the meeting; and the planned route discussed was described as coming from the hill above Lubbock, around the White Bison area, down to Water Street and up Mill Street, with a pump station at the low point by White Bison.

Ending: The council did not take formal action on the project at the meeting. Residents seeking more information were told to contact the letter-of-intent coordinator listed on the forms left with town staff; the forms are to be compiled and provided by Ash Creek’s local contact.