WILLMAR -- The installation of a sanitary sewer system to three Spicer lakes is expected to begin this month.
The Green Lake Sanitary Sewer and Water District system will be extended to Nest Lake, George Lake and Henderson Lake.
The $6 million project, which will make the municipal sanitary sewer system available to about 313 lake residents, will be completed next year.
Following an information meeting two weeks ago and public hearings last weekend, the Kandiyohi County Commissioners approved all three projects. The next step in the process is for the county to seek bonds to finance the project, which will likely take place in June or July, said Gary Danielson, county public works director.
A majority of residents support the project, but some are "angry" and "upset" about the project moving ahead because of the assessments, County Administrator Larry Kleindl said.
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Homeowners will pay $17,420 in assessments, spread out over 20 years.
The assessments will cover a homeowner's share of the trunk line, the low-pressure collection lines that will loop around each lake and the grinder pumps that will be installed at each home. Some residents will be able to share a grinder pump to reduce costs.
As part of the project, the individual septic tanks will be put out of commission.
Most will be pumped out and filled with sand. There's an extra cost to have the tanks removed. Besides the assessments, there will be monthly service fees.
"We recognize their concern," Danielson said. "It's not chicken feed."
On the other hand, Danielson said he's very pleased the competitive construction bids were $1.4 million below the engineer's estimate.
"I'm thankful we got the prices we did," he said.
Quam Construction of Willmar was the low-bidder for the project at $4,408,467.
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The other costs for the project include engineering, legal and financing fees.
Kleindl said the area lake associations pursued the idea of extending the GLSSWD system to lakeshore homes as a way to "improve or maintain the quality of water that we have" in the lakes.
There's been concern for years about the deteriorating quality of water in Nest Lake.
Because George and Henderson Lakes are "spring-fed," Kleindl said it would "take a lifetime" for those bodies of water to recover once they were polluted.
The commissioners have directed the planning commission to establish criteria for tier two and three lake homes that could be exempt from using the municipal system even if it is available.
