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Church seeks sewer hookup; council and utility commission weigh easements, fees and engineering
Summary
The Church of the Nazarene asked to connect to town sewer by financing a long directional bore and grinder pumps rather than build an expensive septic drainfield; the workshop explored whether to waive system-development fees for private-funded connections, easement and maintenance requirements, and the need for engineering and policy guidance from the utility commission.
A commercial sewer connection request from the Church of the Nazarene prompted a detailed workshop discussion on July 16 about easements, ownership, impact fees and the town’s procedures for privately funded extensions.
Brandon Roberts briefed the joint meeting; the church proposed a roughly 2,000-foot directional bore from a gravity line behind a clinic to the church property and to install a duplex grinder system so it would abandon a private septic field that the pastor said would cost $40,000–$60,000. Brandon said the church offered to pay for the bore and pumps and that the town would take ownership of the installed main under a pioneering/turnover agreement.
"They want to pay for the sewer directional bore for the 2 inch, and also they want to pay for the pump and everything to to completely tie into our system," Brandon said. Council members and the town attorney said the pieces that require town oversight are engineering specs, warranties, and easements for long-term access and maintenance.
Town attorney advised that engineering and procurement questions need answers before final acceptance and recommended the utility commission scope the work, request quotes and propose a policy for fee waivers or reductions. Council member concerns included whether to waive the $3,200 system-development charge and whether a waiver should cover only the collection-system portion (not the town’s share of treatment plant costs).
Commission members emphasized the need for an easement if the bore crosses private property, and noted that if a right-of-way does not already exist the town will need to secure property agreements. The utility commission was asked to draft recommended procedures and, where appropriate, obtain engineering quotes so council can consider a consistent approach rather than ad hoc decisions.
The group directed staff and the commission to return recommended language on fees, easements and engineering standards so the town can move quickly without exposing the public to noncompliant infrastructure or unexpected maintenance liabilities.
