WILLMAR -- Plans to expand sanitary sewer service to the homes ringing George and Henderson lakes and portions of Nest Lake in Kandiyohi County are moving forward.
Following hearings held with property owners on the three lakes both Friday and Saturday, the Kandiyohi County Board of Commissioners took action to expand the Green Lake Sanitary Sewer and Water District to include the three lakes.
The board's action will allow survey and engineering work to get under way this fall on the proposed project, said Gary Danielson, Kandiyohi County public works director.
The project calls for developing a low-pressure line to serve homes around both George and Henderson lakes, as well as those on the north, south and east shores of Nest Lake.
While they moved the project forward, the commissioners also made note of the concerns of property owners, especially those on the second tier of houses on the lakes. The commissioners indicated a willingness to review the county's current policy on when second- and third-tier properties must hook up to a sanitary system, Danielson said.
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The hearings brought out both concerns and support for the district's expansion. The county heard concerns about the costs to homeowners, Danielson said, but it has also received petitions from residents on George and Henderson lakes asking for the expansion.
The county has also received petitions from some property owners near Nest Lake opposed to the district. The petitions have come from landowners on the southwest corner of the lake and from a second tier of development north of the lake. Both of the areas are included in the district, but the current plans for expanding service do not include them, according to Danielson.
Preliminary engineering plans call for initially making service available to 286 of the approximately 500 homes in the area of expansion. The system will be built with the capacity to handle future growth. There are expectations that second- and third-tier development occurring along the lakes will more than triple the number of homes.
All of the homes eligible for hook-up will be assessed a base fee for the cost of constructing the line.
The property owners will be assessed the total cost of service when they actually complete a hook-up. Current cost estimates are: Henderson Lake, $17,700 total with a $6,830 base; George Lake, $17,603 total with a $7,455 base; and Nest Lake, $17,710 total with a $7,300 base.
The project is aimed at reducing the phosphorus reaching the lakes from septic systems. On all three lakes, it is believed that more than one-half of the septic systems were installed prior to 1996 and may not be in compliance with current codes.
The county could have plans and specifications ready for bidding in 2008 with possible construction completed in late 2009.
A separate set of public hearings will be held for property owners when engineering work and more detailed cost estimates are available.
