An informational meeting was held Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at Kinnikinnick School for Sagewood Subdivision resident regarding a possible sewer extension project. A copy of the handouts from that meeting are posted here.

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ROCK RIVER WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT
COMMITTEE OF LOCAL IMPROVEMENTS
ENGINEERING DIVISION
PETITION FOR SANITARY SEWER SERVICE
BY SPECIAL ASSESSMENT

Will services and facilities like water, storm sewers, curb and gutter, garbage pickup, etc. be provided by the Rock River Water Reclamation District? No. The only purpose of the proposed construction project is to provide sanitary sewer service to the owners in this area. This service includes collection and treatment of sewage.

What is the purpose of the petition? The petition requests the Committee of Local Improvements of the District to recommend passage of an Ordinance which would provide for construction of sanitary sewers to be paid for by special assessment. The Committee generally desires signatures by a majority of the owners. The Special Assessment area must be within the corporate boundary of the District.

Where will the sanitary sewers be constructed? The sewers are usually constructed in the public street right-of-way. An sanitary sewer main is constructed in the right-of-way with a 4″ sanitary sewer service extended to the property line of each buildable lot.

What is the Special Assessment charge? This charge provides for the extension of a service stub to the property line. This charge is payable over a 10-year period at a maximum rate of 6% interest on the unpaid balance

Where will the 4″ sanitary service to my lot be placed? A letter will be mailed to you shortly before construction starts, requesting you to place a stake where you would like your service at end of your property line.

If no stake is found, the field engineer will usually place a stake at your lot line in line with your roof stack. However, it is preferred that you contact the engineer in the field directly or via the contractor when construction begins. The District will make every effort to place your sanitary service in the location which your request; however, it is sometimes necessary to move the service location due to such factors as gas lines, telephone lines, trees, and end of the mainline sewer.

Will the entire street surface be replaced or will it be patched? The street surface will be replaced to the roadway authority’s requirements.

Will we have access to our homes? Drives and roadways must remain open or access be provided at all feasible times. There will be short periods when access may be difficult, but every effort will be made to facilitate access.

My septic is fine; will we have to connect to the sanitary sewer system right away? The Winnebago County Health Department requirements for connection to sewers are that whenever public sewer becomes available to a property operating on a private system, connection to and use of the public sewer facilities shall be required if the private system fails.

Will you force us to construct sewer? The Rock River Water Reclamation District is not in the business of initiating Special Assessment Projects. The District provides a service to those areas that need and are requesting the sewer facilities. Generally a majority of the property owners must support the Petition to perform the project for it to be considered. In some cases, the County Health Department may request the construction of sewers.

How deep will the sewer lines be in front of my property? The District will have the plans and specifications for your area at a public hearing if the majority of the residents choose to proceed with this project.

Senior Citizen Deferral Is Available. The District offers a Senior Citizen Deferral payment program. Age and income guidelines must be met. The participating citizen must be at least 65 years of age, must have an income no greater than $50,000 a year and must have lived and be living in their home at least three years. Forms and additional information are available at the District.

What other charges are involved?
a. After the project is constructed, each property owner, at his election, hires a private bonded plumber to connect the house plumbing with a sanitary sewer service at the property line. Rates vary and three quotes are recommended. A list of bonded plumbers is available from the District. There is a connection fee which includes a plant buyin fee, currently $478/ERU (single family residence) due before a connection permit can be issued to a plumber. All fees are subject to change without prior notice.

b. After the building is connected to the public sewer service, a sewer use charge, required by Public Law 92-500, is billed each quarter at a current rate of $1.82/Ccf (100 cubic feet or 750 gallons) of wastewater. The District uses the metered water during the winter quarters that is billed by the water department to calculate your wastewater treatment bill. In addition, each user is charged $2.50 per quarter which pays for the cost of preparing and sending the bill. The average user fee bill is approximately $45.00 quarterly. (These charges are subject to change). WELLS CANNOT BE METERED and will be charged a flat rate.

When can connection be made? After the sewers are constructed to the property line and tested and restoration completed, the property owners can hire a plumber to connect their building to sewer. A letter will be mailed to notify residents when connection can be made.

Sagewood 03/11/2009
kb /saforms/sa?s rev. 03/2009

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Extension of Sewer Utilizing District Cost-Sharing Program

1. One or more property owners talk with their neighbors to determine the extent of interest in a sewer extension project.
2. If enough property owners are interested, Engineering staff prepares a preliminary project cost estimate and presents it to the District Board of Trustees. If the Board decides that there is enough neighborhood interest and the District would not pay for an unreasonable amount of the project costs, it authorizes title searches and property appraisals to determine amount of parcel assessment. Assessments are determined by the appraiser’s estimate as to the increased value to the parcel if sanitary sewer were available.
    Whether the project is financed using Public Benefit Funds or Capital Funds is determined by the percentage of costs that are paid for by the District. If the District contribution does not exceed sixty-five percent (65%) of the total estimated gross of on-site cost the project would proceed as a Special Assessment project.
    

   A Special Assessment project is financed over a period of ten (10) years with a current interest rate of 6% on the unpaid balance. Parcel Owners’ receive a bill from the District in December that is due January 1st. They can be paid off in full or partially at any time.

3. Following Board approval, an Informational Meeting is scheduled. District Engineering staff notifies the property owners in the proposed project area of the time and location of the informational meeting. The property owners are also informed of the amount of their assessment should the owners approve the project. The meeting location is generally chosen and arranged for by the property owners, but can be held in the District Board Room.
4. At the Informational Meeting, Engineering staff describes and answers questions about the District Cost-Sharing Program process. If a significant number of the owners at the informational meeting are interested in a sewer project, petitions are prepared. The petitions are sent to one or more of the property owners for circulation.
5. When the petitions are returned to the District, staff prepares a report for the Board on the interest for and against a sewer project. The Board then decides whether or not to proceed with a project.
6. A Proposing Ordinance is presented to the Board for approval. This ordinance includes a date for a Public Hearing, which is held by the Board at the District, on the detailed plans and specifications. Notice of this meeting is mailed to all property owners in the proposed project area.
7. Based on the results of the Public Hearing, the Board decides if the District will continue to construction with a project. If the Board decides to proceed with the project, the Engineering staff continues with the required regulations.
8. The project begins and Engineering staff does a field survey to locate property lines, street and driveway locations, trees, etc., including underground borings to check for rock and groundwater conditions, and prepares detailed construction plans and specifications.
9. The District then requests and receives bids for the construction of the sewer, and awards a construction contract.
10. After the sewer is constructed, tested and approved for connection, sewer connection permits may be issued to licensed plumbers who are registered and bonded with the District.
11. Projects of this type take about 6 months to one year from the start of the process to start of construction.

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