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CITY OF CARLISLE  
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES 

Tuesday, July 6, 2006, 7:30 P.M.
Carlisle City Hall Council Chamber, 195 N. 1st St.


Officials present were:  Mayor Ruth Randleman, Council members Doug Hammerand, Eric Mahnke, Blair Dewey and Frank Shultz and City Administrator Neil Ruddy.  Councilmember Drew Merrifield was absent.  Also present were Terry Lutz, Derick Anderson and Tony Trotter of McClure Engineering and several citizens

Mayor Randleman called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.

The scope of the Avon/gateway sewer and water projects was reviewed.  The Avon Lake portion will be a low pressure collection system.  The hook-up and septic abandonment costs will be included in the project.  The financing will be USDA rural development grants, a community development block grant and USDA rural development loans.  It is proposed that each property will pay a sewer rate between $42 and $46 per month. 

The Carlisle portion of the project will be a gravity collection system that will extend west on 72nd Ave. from the Avon Lake lift station, south on the line between the Goodhue Realty Co. and Michael Pollock/Sandridge Farms properties and west along the grass waterway to SE 52nd St for the base bid portion, north on SE 52nd St. to SE 64th Ave for the alternate 1. portion and south on SE 52nd St. to Highway 5 for the alternate 2. portion.  The financing will be sewer revenue bonds at an estimated rate of 4 to 5%.  It is proposed to establish a connection fee district to recover the costs of the project.  A connection fee of $1750 per acre and $41 per foot was originally proposed with a residential connection fee capped of $6,875 which would be the equivalent of 1 acre and 125’ of frontage.  The hook-up and septic abandonment costs are not be included in the project.  It is proposed that each property will pay a flat sewer rate equivalent to the volume rate for a City resident using 4,000 gallons per month of $21 per month.

The sewer is necessary because it will encourage development and because the City is obligated to provide utility services to annexed areas.  It was explained that the Carlisle gateway residents will benefit tremendously from the infrastructure that is being financed by the Avon grants and loans.

Alternative connection fees of $1,875 per acre and $35 per linear foot with a residential cap of $6,250 and $2,000 per acre and $28 per linear foot with a residential cap of $5,500 were proposed as ways to shift more of the cost to the vacant property so that it would be paid by future developers and reduce the cost to the existing homeowners.  It was explained that the linear foot cost only affects properties adjacent to the actual sewer pipe.  Properties that are not adjacent to the sewer pipe will pay the linear foot cost of the pipe when it is installed in the future. 

The payment of the connection fee through a 10-year assessment was discussed.  Options for property owners could be:

  1. Pay nothing up front and pay the connection in a lump sum either when the house is sold or the septic tank fails.
  2. Pay the connection fee up front either as a lump sum or as a 10-year assessment but not connect until the house is sold or the septic tank fails.
  3. Pay the connection fee up front either as a lump sum or as a 10-year assessment and connect immediately with the cost of the service to the house and the abandonment of the septic included in the project.

It is estimated that the cost of replacing a septic tank would be between $3,000 and $10,000, the cost of abandoning a septic tank would between $500 and $1,000 and the cost of a service line would be $15 to $18 per foot.

It was explained that the easements can be acquired either voluntarily or through condemnation.  Questions about individual easements were referred to McClure Engineering or to the City Administrator.  It was explained that the General Mills connection fee would be $113,000.

Motion by Dewey to adjourn at 9:03 P.M.  Seconded by Mahnke.  Roll call vote: Dewey – Aye, Mahnke – Aye, Hammerand – Aye, Shultz – Aye.  Motion carried by unanimous vote of those present.

                                                                        ___________________________________

                                                                        Ruth Randleman, Mayor  

Attest:

___________________________

Neil Ruddy, Administrator/Clerk

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