Beaver City discusses ordinance change to require sewer connection when septic fails; standby fee proposed

Beaver City officials on May 26 discussed updating local ordinance language to address properties served by septic systems that are within 300 linear feet of a city sewer main.

Staff presented suggested wording intended to require residents who are within 300 feet of a Beaver City main sewer line to connect when their septic system fails, while also allowing a monthly “standby” fee for properties that remain unconnected. “Residents of Beaver City who are not connected to a sewer main line, who are serviced by a septic system, who live within 300 feet of a Beaver City main sewer line are required to connect to a nearby Beaver City main sewer line when their system fails,” Staff member said, quoting the draft language.

The city discussed mechanics and cost. Staff and consultants gave a ballpark connection cost of about $65 per linear foot and noted there may be additional boring costs depending on where the main lies relative to a property. Council members asked how many households would be affected (estimates in the discussion ranged from roughly half a dozen to about ten in identified areas) and how the standby fee would be used; staff said the fee would be held by the city and used to defray system construction, operation and maintenance costs rather than directly paying for a homeowner’s connection.

Councilors also discussed state code and administrative rules cited by staff; staff noted state code language gives municipalities the authority to require connection within 300 feet but that the local ordinance does not currently include a specific trigger tied to system failure. The council asked staff to draft ordinance language, to check how other municipalities have handled similar rules, and to schedule a public hearing before any formal vote.

What’s next: staff will draft the ordinance language for public hearing and return the item to a future council agenda.