Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sewer Connection topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Isanti homeowners told hookup costs and WACC fees can block sales; council urges county inspection first
Summary
A homeowner seeking to sell a house learned hookup bids of $16,000–$20,000 plus roughly $7,000 in connection fees are complicating the sale. City staff said hookup is required only when a county inspection finds septic failure and suggested the owner pursue county perc/testing and potential tax-assessment options with the county.
Kathleen "Katie" King, who lives at 313 Palomino Road SE, and her realtor Amanda Holland told the Committee of the Whole that prospective buyers have walked away because of the cost to connect an older property to city sewer and water.
"The bids we're getting for the work are between, like, 16 and $20,000 just for the work," realtor Amanda Holland said, adding that that figure does not include roughly "just over $7,000 in WACC and SAC fees" to connect to city systems.
City staff and council clarified the city does not automatically require hookup for properties with existing wells or septic systems unless a public-health inspection determines the system has failed. Isanti County handles septic compliance and percolation testing; if the county finds a full replacement is required, the owner would then be required to hook up to city utilities.
Staff described several possible approaches to address the homeowner’s sale problem: assess the connection cost to property taxes at the council’s direction (staff noted the county’s default is to place the assessment due next year with no interest if terms are not specified), attempt to negotiate low- or no-interest assessment terms with the county, or have the seller and buyer allocate the cost in the purchase contract. Councilmembers encouraged the homeowner to pursue a county septic evaluation first to confirm whether hookup will be required.
One council member described the situation as "forced" on homeowners who become part of the city after infrastructure changes and said the council could advocate for favorable assessment terms.
Next step: Staff will work with the homeowner to determine whether the county will approve on-site repairs or require hookup; if hookup is required, staff will return with assessment options and potential payment terms for council consideration.
