The county committee approved a reservation of 28 sewage flow units (SFUs) for Central Pike Elementary and agreed to waive the county capacity fee for the school.

Christopher, the county staff presenter, said the school board originally requested 43 SFUs and that follow-up work by Heritage Civil and communications with the City of Lebanon reduced the request to 28 SFUs, which staff recommended for approval. Christopher described the parcels involved (Map 101, parcels 45 and 4501, about 44.96 acres at 13755 and 14045 Central Pike) and said the 28 SFUs translate to a reservation of up to roughly 9,800 gallons per day.

The nut graf: The board’s action clears capacity for the new or expanded school while waiving the county’s usual capacity charge; staff emphasized that the City of Lebanon’s review remains a controlling element for actual connection and that a 10% reservation fee is due within 30 days and nonrefundable if capacity is unused within two years.

Committee discussion focused on how SFUs are calculated and how peak flows differ from average daily usage. Christopher and other members explained the committee uses peak-flow assumptions (the county’s estimate for students was amended from 15 to 10 gallons per student per day). Members raised that some recorded spikes in flow were traceable to leaks or special events and that the city may assess an amended capacity fee if actual service exceeds the committed level. Speaker 1, who moved the motion, said the committee would “approve the 28 SFUs and we waive the payment for the school.” Christopher reiterated the reservation rules: “There is a 10% reservation fee that is due within 30 days of this approval that is nonrefundable if capacity is not used within 2 years.”

Staff provided cost estimates: at the county’s per-unit rate of $30,000, the full build-out payment for 28 SFUs would total $840,000, with an $84,000 reservation fee due within 30 days under the county’s current practice. Staff also said the committee has previously granted fee forgiveness for school board projects that serve a government entity.

The committee voted to approve the reservation and the fee waiver; the chair recorded the motion as carried on the record.

The committee did not alter the City of Lebanon’s authority to require capacity adjustments or to assess additional fees if measured flows exceed the committed level. Staff said schools could document and request credit for leak-related spikes if audited. The chair closed the item and the committee moved on to new business.