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Argyle sewer project advances toward construction ... slowly
By Joe Benedict/MVM News Network
FORT MADISON - A long-awaited sanitary sewer project in Argyle is creeping toward the construction phase.
“To this point we've been patient with the DNR,” Engineer Jim Warner said Tuesday to Lee County supervisors. “There's been some rule changes as to what can be discharged into streams.”
Discussion of a sanitary sewer project in Argyle have been ongoing since the county joined the Regional Utility Service Systems, or RUSS, in early 2006.
Warner explained the system RUSS is putting into Argyle is a little more advanced than regular home septic systems.
Supervisor George Morgan asked if the system would be able to accommodate more users. Warner said since the system they are installing is a low pressure collection system, where each home has its own pump, it will not be difficult to hook up more to the line.
The cost will be to extend main lines when someone wants to hook in.
There will be about 44 homes and businesses hooked up to the system initially. Warner said he didn't know how many could be added on to the system, but a similar system in Mount Union in Henry County started with about 40 and now about 60 are hooked in.
Kelly Lewiston, CEO and director of RUSS, brought up an issue that supervisors had not been discussed before. She said about 20-25 percent of people who will be required to pay the $35-45 monthly usage fee will let bills become past due.
Supervisor Bob Woodruff asked Lewiston if RUSS, which collects the monthly fee, will put people into collection. Lewiston said generally tax liens are put on property of those who go 90 days past due.
“It seems strange to launch a ship when you have the statistics that say from the get-go 25 percent won't pay their bill,” Woodruff said.
Woodruff was concerned that the county would have to pick up the tab and won't recoup delinquent amounts until property is sold. At 20 percent of the 44 people in the Argyle system not paying the bill, the cost could be $308 per month.
Woodruff said the county can't foreclose on a $100,000 property for a $35 bill and small claims court is not a likely course of action.
Lewiston said cities deal with the problem all the time. Rural projects aren't going to be any different when it comes to people “who don't feel like they need to pay their bills,” she said.
Lewiston expects to schedule a public hearing in Argyle by the end of April to update everyone who plans on hooking into the system.
When construction starts, service may be disrupted for a short time, but not for days, and there may be some road closings while construction is taking place.
“To this point we've been patient with the DNR,” Engineer Jim Warner said Tuesday to Lee County supervisors. “There's been some rule changes as to what can be discharged into streams.”
Discussion of a sanitary sewer project in Argyle have been ongoing since the county joined the Regional Utility Service Systems, or RUSS, in early 2006.
Warner explained the system RUSS is putting into Argyle is a little more advanced than regular home septic systems.
Supervisor George Morgan asked if the system would be able to accommodate more users. Warner said since the system they are installing is a low pressure collection system, where each home has its own pump, it will not be difficult to hook up more to the line.
The cost will be to extend main lines when someone wants to hook in.
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Kelly Lewiston, CEO and director of RUSS, brought up an issue that supervisors had not been discussed before. She said about 20-25 percent of people who will be required to pay the $35-45 monthly usage fee will let bills become past due.
Supervisor Bob Woodruff asked Lewiston if RUSS, which collects the monthly fee, will put people into collection. Lewiston said generally tax liens are put on property of those who go 90 days past due.
“It seems strange to launch a ship when you have the statistics that say from the get-go 25 percent won't pay their bill,” Woodruff said.
Woodruff was concerned that the county would have to pick up the tab and won't recoup delinquent amounts until property is sold. At 20 percent of the 44 people in the Argyle system not paying the bill, the cost could be $308 per month.
Woodruff said the county can't foreclose on a $100,000 property for a $35 bill and small claims court is not a likely course of action.
Lewiston said cities deal with the problem all the time. Rural projects aren't going to be any different when it comes to people “who don't feel like they need to pay their bills,” she said.
Lewiston expects to schedule a public hearing in Argyle by the end of April to update everyone who plans on hooking into the system.
When construction starts, service may be disrupted for a short time, but not for days, and there may be some road closings while construction is taking place.
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