Village attorney clarifies private sewer lateral ordinance: 24-hour notice required, $50 special charge could be a lien

Attorney Ashley presented a memo from Attorney Adam clarifying the village’s private sewer lateral ordinance. According to Ashley, the memo states the village must give at least 24 hours' notice to the property owner before staff, equipment, or contractors can cross the right-of-way to access a private lateral. Ashley also said the memo recommended language that would treat a $50 special charge as a special charge that could become a lien.

Board members raised privacy and legal concerns about televising private laterals. Ashley said the village could proceed without consent only in a public-safety emergency or with a court order; otherwise, a property owner who refuses televising could block the work.

Ashley said she anticipates bringing clarifying ordinance language back to the board for further consideration at a later meeting. The board received the clarification and had no immediate vote on ordinance language; the bid to add the $50 special charge as lien language was described as a recommended option.