Mandatory sewer hookups increase 65%
When the Lee County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in January ordered Florida Governmental Utility Authority (FGUA) to begin a mandatory connection program, some 101 properties were identified.
Now the number has increased to 166 residential properties.
Kevin Grace, assistant director of municipal services for the contract manager of the Lehigh Acres water and sewer system made a special presentation on the mandatory sewer connection program to the Utility Advisory Committee on Wednesday, February 18.
He said that further field survey may even identify additional properties.
The committee raised the issue whether properties along the forced main sewer lines would also be added.
“There will be commercial properties that fall under mandatory connection,” he said.
A survey of commercial properties is underway. No report is yet available from FGUA.
Major cluster areas include 717 to 768 Arundel Circle; 224 to 250 David Avenue; 708 to 740 Fargo Drive; 609 to 719 Joel Boulevard; 302 to 320 North Avenue; 704 to 844 Rue Labonne Road; and 123 to 163 Zenith Circle.
Grace outlined the schedule for the program and said the property owners have been provided a courtesy notice.
There will public meetings in April to explain the program, he said. Formal notices will be sent to the property owners affected.
The start of a 365-day final deadline for connection as required by Florida statute 381.00655(1) (a) will begin.
Jim Lavender, director of Lee County Public Works confirmed the one year deadline.
If a land owner has a non-functional system the owner will be required to connect in 90 days. (Florida statute 381.00655(1) (b)) The Lee County Department of Health should not issue a repair permit.
In the May-June time frame, FGUA will begin connecting those who would like to connect immediately. Grace indicated they are now in discussion with several owners.
By April 2010 all systems will be connected, Grace said.
He also provided an estimated cost analysis.
All hookups require the payment of the impact fee of $2,840. He said there may be a few cases where this fee has been paid which will be honored. The homeowner should provide documentation of payment however, he said.
The homeowner is responsible to hire the independent certified vendor to complete the abandonment of the septic tank and the connection from the right-of-way to the clean out.
The low estimate of $3,000 is based on the lateral connection (stub out) to the gravity sewer having been previously installed. If not, the cost has been estimated at $13,000.
Michael Murphy was the only affected homeowner who attended the meeting.
He has a two-septic tank system. In his case he is more than 200 feet to the line. Being below grade a life station might be required. He said it could cost him more than $25,000 to connect.
Given the current difficult economic situation, Murphy said he could not afford a $1,000 per month charge. He said the market value of his home has decreased $150,000.
Payment plans are available, however.
FGUA would bundle all of the charges and set an assessment on the property tax bill, officials said.
Under Florida statute, FGUA must provide a two-year interest-free option. Under this alternative, the home owner would pay 24 equal monthly installments to FGUA added to the monthly utility bill. Thus there would be a monthly payment of $214 under the low cost estimate to $630 per month for the high estimate.
The statute also provides for a five-year 60 payment interest-free loan.
“This option would be available only to affected property owners that would qualify as a financial hardship,” officials said.
The staff’s recommendation is that “financial hardship” be defined to include homeowners who can demonstrate that they are on one or more public assistance programs at the time that connection is made.”
Also presented was a 15-year with interest option. “It is contemplated that under this option, FGUA would place an assessment on the affected property and would collect the assessment annually through the tax bill process for 15 years,” officials said.
Diane Turrill, a local real estate broker and a member of the committee, did a review and found that 34 properties on the list were in foreclosure.
She said an agent must disclose that the sewer and water assessment will be due on the property. In today’s market the home could not be sold as comparable homes cost much less.
When FGUA meets on March 19 at the Majestic Golf Course meeting room at 350 Homestead Road in Lehigh Acres, it is anticipated that the Board will give final approval to the time line for implementation. This will be an all-day meeting from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.