Resident request for Upper Balsam sewer discussed; council hears $700K–$1M estimates

A councilor on the Public Works and Billing Committee raised a constituent request for municipal sewer service on Upper Balsam Street after a resident reported a failed septic.

The speaker said the Colonial Pines sewer project originally included multiple phases; phase 4 picked up most of the homes that wanted connection, and a survey in February 2022 showed strong interest in earlier phases. The councilor said letters to the six abutters on Upper Balsam yielded responses from two residents who wanted sewer (numbers 3 and 5 on the map) and additional nonresponses.

He said the cost to install sewer in Upper Balsam when the project was last considered would have been about $700,000; given the current project status and scope, he estimated that adding the area now could cost around $1,000,000 and noted there is no guarantee ratepayers would be assessed for the full cost.

Phase 5 — the speaker said — has been designed and remains available for future need, but the committee did not commit to any immediate construction funding.

The committee received the update and no formal action was taken at the meeting.