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Sewer line costs on the minds of affected property owners
By Margaret Downing
Reporter
SOUTH BELOIT – At the April 18 South Beloit City Council meeting, commissioners voted to approve a change order for the 2016 Sanitary Sewer Lateral Improvements. A number of residents affected by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency consent decree from 2012, who need new lines run in, were in attendance at the meeting.
There is a difference, depending on the various situations, such as length of the line, how much the residents will have to pay. Ilah Tinder noted that the estimate she and her husband received for three properties came to about $20,000.
City Attorney Roxanne Sosnowski explained a possible option for residents might be to sign up for a “Special Service Area” or SSA, if not able to pay the fees all at once. There has to be a goodly number in an SSA for Winnebago County to approve it. Decisions have to be made by the residents by May 2. If an SSA does apply, money would be paid over a seven-year period through property taxes.
An engineer from McMahon Associates also answered some questions concerning the decision to burst pipes and lay a new line in, which he said “is the most cost effective option for homeowners.”
He said pipe bursting is not something all contractors can do but this will allow “trenchless technology” with the advantage of having brand new pipes put in. Also, much less restoration is involved and should save property owners about $2,000 per site. Seamless flexible PVC pipe will be used. Property owners have until November to have the work done if they choose to go with their own contractor but a two-year warranty is required.
Some of the property sewer lines are over 80 years old.
In other business the council heard that three mowing bids had been received for city properties, and taking out a two-year contract is cheaper. Lowest bidder, Nason’s, gets the job for $1,414 per season on city properties listed. On average, there are 26 mowings a season.
Part-time dispatchers hired for the fire department were Jessica Jacobs, Ryan Donner, and Shelby Davies. Part-time “paid on call” firefighters hired were Taylor Ramsey, Dustin Reddin, and Lorianne Lynch.
Authorization was given for the disposal of city property (11 cell phones).
LED lighting will be installed in the parking lot behind the city hall and police department building.
Demolition projects on residential and commercial properties to go out for bids include addresses at 629 Northwestern Ave., 711 Salmon, 910 Ingersoll, 624 Fairview, 327 Burr Oak, 866 Marvin St., and 900 Eastern Ave.
A resolution was passed for a “Master Agreement for Conveyance and Lease between South Beloit and Confluence Ecology 2020, LLC.”
April 18 was proclaimed by Mayor Ted Rehl to be “Skylee Flemming as Honorary Mayor for the Day.”
A proclamation declaring the month of May as Motorcycle Awareness Month was read, as was one for Safe Boating Week, May 21-26.
Discussion concerning the Recreational Vehicle Parking Ordinance was once again on the agenda. Attorney Sosnowski and staff will work on an updated ordinance.
