LONGTON'S WOES

[CCarl]

Fixin' What's Wrong Post Three; What The Election Won't Change

7) Here we are, mid-October 2025, with talk of a new sewer fee rising from $26.00 a month to $50.00, or potentially $100.00 a month, to help pay for a high-priced, inflation-driven $5,000,000 sewer repair that will develop problems within half a dozen years after it is completed. Just like the million dollar chip seal on half our roads a few years back. You know, the chip seal that started deteriorating in its third year.
Yes, we have an opportunity to save half that five million dollars, maybe more, and still meet State standards for effluent collection and treatment. Shouldn't we find the least cost alternative that meets State standards, instead of accepting the spoon-fed option the State and Industry want us to eat?
Hopefully the planning phase will acknowledge that three lift stations can economically be eliminated with the users of those lift stations converted to septic tanks and drain fields. That can save $450,000+. Hopefully planning will also identify the 1150 feet of sewer on 5th, west of Douglas, that should be abandoned, and have three properties convert to septic and drain fields. That can save $150,000+. And there may be three or four other ares where similar actions can be taken. Planning phase must be encouraged to complete an Alternatives Analyses. Just those options I mentioned would save $600,000+ of the projected $5,000,000 project.
But the biggest savings would be to abandon the sewer system entirely, and install septic tanks and drain fields for all 155 current users. Septic tanks and drain fields would run about $7500 for a family of four. Septic tanks and mounded drain fields for soils that will not 'perc' would run about $14,000 each. Given the extent of clayey soils with poor drainage we will need mounded drain fields in many areas. As a worst case, assume we require a mound system for everyone in town; that would cost $2.17 million. That is significantly less than half the project the State wants to feed us. It is a lowest cost, practical alternative. AND, IF 1/5 of our residents (for example) do not need a mounded drain field the cost falls to ((155*.2)*7500)+((155*.*14000) = $1.97 million as the least case alternative. (ASK CASCITY why a smiley face with shades replaces a point eight!!) Isn't that a significant enough savings to fight for?
The debt pay-off reality is that our socialist government will write off 75% of the costs to us, and charge that 75% amount to other taxpayers. That seems like a big freebie to locals with their hands out to do as little as possible, falsely believing things are free.

That 75% cost diversion would mean a $1.25 million liability for our residents for the full blown repair project. BUT, it would mean only a $500,000+/- liability for the lowest cost alternative of septic tanks and drain fields. Which would you prefer as a basis for monthly sewage payments; a $500,000 debt, or a $1.25 million debt?
Oh, remember at $1.25 million, the repaired and lined sewer system will still require an additional monthly charge for continued maintenance of it. The conversion to septic tanks and drain fields will not have a monthly maintenance charge because there will not be a need for city maintenance of them, they become landowner responsibility.
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