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Council denies Bakers' request to be exempt from sewer connection and fee
Summary
Homeowners Logan and Chloe Baker asked Millville City Council for an exemption from mandatory sewer connection and a reduced monthly fee citing a $9,000–$11,000 lateral cost; the council denied the request, citing City Code and state funding conditions that require connections and fees to support sewer debt.
Logan Baker, a Millville homeowner, told the City Council the cost to run a sewer lateral around his house to the street connection would be substantial — "between $9,000 and $11,000," he said — and asked the council to exempt his property from the mandatory sewer connection requirement and to waive or reduce the monthly sewer fee.
Council members discussed the request at length and noted the city’s long-term sewer financing relies on all homes connecting and paying the monthly fee. Recorder Corey Twedt and Councilmember Ryan Zollinger both referenced Millville City Code and the conditions tied to state funding that expect properties to connect. Zollinger noted that a code-based exemption exists when a property line is more than 300 feet from the sewer main, and that the Bakers do not meet that threshold.
Councilmember Jacob Ames said he agreed with Zollinger and described the council’s limits: "I don't think the Council is in the position to grant the requested exception," Ames said. Facing the apparent conflict between the homeowners' hardship and the requirements tied to the sewer financing, Councilmember Zollinger moved to deny the Bakers' request; Councilmember Ames seconded. Councilmembers Ward, Ames, June, Ripplinger and Zollinger voted yes; the motion carried, denying the requested exemption.
The council's decision leaves the Bakers responsible for arranging and paying the lateral connection; Recorder Twedt had discussed possible alternative technical approaches during the meeting but no follow-up direction to waive fees was approved. The council noted that while the city can consider hardship assistance in other forms, waiving the monthly sewer payment would jeopardize the utility's ability to meet debt obligations unless offset by increases for other ratepayers.
The council included a copy of the related staff report in the meeting materials and voted on the motion during the May 14 meeting. Any further appeals or alternative assistance requests would require a future council action.
