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County proposes loans, last‑call notices and possible enforcement to finish West Valley sewer hookups
Summary
The county CEO proposed offering loans up to $7,000 per household (10‑year term at 3%) to help the roughly 40 remaining West Valley residences connect to the sewer system; commissioners warned of public‑health risks and the county attorney said noncompliance under ordinance 2‑30 is a misdemeanor punishable by fines and possible jail time.
The county CEO told the commission the West Valley sewer project began about 2010 and the commission enacted ordinance 2‑30 in 2013 to establish classifications and connection requirements. He said 195 residences have completed hookups, about 41 households remain unconnected and 16 parcels are vacant.
"What I would like to do is... make it available for these individuals to borrow up to $7,000 per residence from the county over a 10 year period, 3% interest," the CEO said, proposing a county loan program to remove affordability as a barrier and asking commissioners for input before a vote in two weeks.
The CEO estimated the county could lend up to $280,000 to cover those hookups and said he had contacted six contractors ready to perform the work; with funding, he said the remaining connections could be completed within months.
Several commissioners emphasized public‑health and fairness concerns. One commissioner said residents who remain unconnected are "endangering everybody's health and safety" and that those not connected have been contributing sewer fees like other residents.
County Attorney (role) clarified the ordinance's penalties and enforcement process: "a violation is a misdemeanor, and so it's up to a fine amount of $500 and up to 6 months in jail. And every new day is an offense where the person is not hooked up," and added that the office is willing to prosecute provided there is a designated witness and statutory notice requirements are met.
Commission discussion balanced enforcement and assistance: some commissioners favored using available sewer‑fund reserves to provide loans and a final call to compel compliance, while others said they were sympathetic to cost concerns but worried about long‑term risks to the aquifer and neighbors' health.
Next steps: staff said they will draft a loan program and bring a formal proposal for the commission to vote on in roughly two weeks; the county attorney said his office can pursue prosecution where appropriate and where evidence and notice requirements exist.
