Full Text
City of Missoula, Montana Item to be Referred to City Council Committee Committee: Public Works Committee Item: Community Drain Field Sewer Contracts Date: July 24, 2009 Prepared by: Jessica Miller Initiated by: Steve King Action Required: Adopt a resolution modifying portions of Resolution 7411 for the community drain field exceptions to sewer contract requirements. Recommended Motion: The committee recommends the City Council adopt a resolution to modify Resolution number 7411 regarding exceptions to sewer service contracts for community drain fields. Timeline: Referral to committee: July 22, 2009 Committee discussion: July 29, 2009 Background and Alternatives Explored: The William’s Addition is a 41 lot residential subdivision in the Wye area of Missoula County. The subdivision has an existing private sewer collection system that uses a community drain field for wastewater disposal. The area down gradient from William’s Addition has water quality problems with high nitrates in water wells that have been documented by the Missoula City/County Health Department. The Missoula City/County Health Department has requested that the County Commissioners consider a Rural Special Improvement District (RSID) to abandon the existing William’s Addition drain field and connect it to the City sewer system for wastewater treatment. Community health interests cause the City to consider modifying a portion of sewer service contract requirements to facilitate connection of the existing William’s Addition drain field to the City sewer system. This type of situation has been encountered in the past and can be expected to happen again in other areas in the future. Past experience has proven that obtaining sewer contracts from all the owners of property subject to a community sewer system is unrealistic. Therefore staff recommends modifying Resolution 7411 to accommodate community drain field connections. Financial Implications: City Sewer Utility has provided in-kind service in an amount valued at $6,000 for inspection and evaluation of the William’s Addition sewer system. Any future costs associated with other community drain field connections is unknown at this time. Attachments: Resolution with draft modifications