Council approves limited wastewater service outside city limits for 2881 E. Murphy Road

The Coeur d’Alene City Council voted to approve Resolution No. 24090, permitting a wastewater service agreement for the property at 2881 East Murphy Road located outside city limits.

Wastewater staff explained the property lies beyond the city boundary and cannot annex at present because the fire department cannot provide hydrant service or tender coverage for that location. Staff said an exception in city wastewater policy permits council to approve service outside city limits in select cases. The proposed agreement limits the connection to a single‑family residence, requires the property to annex once fire protection or other annexation conditions are satisfied, makes the connection obligation run with the land, and requires the owner to pay the standard construction and impact fees. Staff said the applicable residential impact (cap) fee is $6,665 and the owner will also pay monthly sewer charges under the city’s residential rate structure.

Council members asked about neighboring properties and whether other failing septic systems might seek similar service; staff said there are properties in the area with failing drainfields and that the city had removed a prior bottleneck in the sewer system to accommodate additional connections. Council discussed careful use of the common‑sense exemption in policy; one councilor noted reluctance historically to grant exceptions but expressed support given the public‑health and environmental benefits of connecting failing septic systems to the municipal sewer.

Motion and vote: Councilor (recorded in the transcript as) Miss Marillou moved to approve Resolution No. 24090; the motion was seconded. Roll‑call votes recorded the council’s approval and the resolution passed.

Next steps: City staff will finalize the special agreement with the owner and record the requirements that the property annex when municipal fire service is available and that the condition runs with the land.