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Sioux City council advances Broken Kettle sewer-connection fee ordinance after residents object to $22,000 cost
Summary
Council approved second reading of an ordinance setting connection fees for the Broken Kettle Road sanitary sewer extension after residents, including Mary Conway, warned the assessed fee — "22,000 and change" — would be unaffordable and asked about grants and payment options.
Sioux City council advanced to second reading an ordinance establishing connection fees for the Broken Kettle Road sanitary sewer extension after extended public comment and discussion about affordability, interest and permitting.
Resident Mary Conway told the council the assessed fee for a connection was "22,000 and change," and said she could not "just write out a check for $22,000 to the city of Sioux City." Conway asked whether grants or payment plans exist and said she might have to move if the cost stands. City engineer Gordon Ferris confirmed the amount discussed and explained the design work: connections were placed so each home would have a tie-in and a plumber would need to "dig down, connect that line to the line" and then abandon the old septic tank "according to DNR rules."
Councilmembers and staff discussed how the fee is structured. One councilmember said the city code provides an 8% interest rate on unpaid fees but noted the council has discretion to set a different, "reasonable" rate; another member suggested 3% could be adequate. Staff said the 8% figure has been historically used but the council is free to lower it. Council also discussed whether paving assessments and connection fees could be separated so residents could pay paving over 10 years while the connection fee would follow the connection-application process.
Mayor's staff said they would research whether grants exist that might reduce out-of-pocket costs for residents and would examine whether the fee could be split or payment terms offered. Ferris noted health and environmental regulations (District Health, DNR) sometimes require properties to connect based on proximity, which can limit residents' options.
The council called the roll and recorded affirmative votes to move the ordinance to second reading; staff said the third reading and final vote will return next week pending review by the city attorney. The council asked staff to provide clarity on fee calculation, any available payment plans or grant funding and on how the municipal code defines connection fees and applicable interest rates.
