Committee approves special assessments for noncompliant sewer laterals on two blocks

Director Gallagher explained two resolutions authorizing partial special assessments to address noncompliant shared sewer laterals on the 1000 block of 9th and Division and at 10th & King. He said these assessments differ from assessments for new mains because the laterals themselves are private property and that the city utility covered roadway, curb and gutter patching while property owners are assessed for the private-pipe replacement portion.

A homeowner affected by the 10th & King split, Carl Green, testified during the public hearing that the shared lateral created difficulty selling his house (two sales fell through) and thanked staff for value engineering a remedy that reduced costs. The committee closed the public hearing and adopted the resolutions; votes passed unanimously.

Director Gallagher said the city’s records for very old laterals (some roughly 100 years old) are incomplete until televising and inspection reveal connections and conditions, which is what often triggers these assessments.