This project does not make sense for the homeowners on septic system for the following reasons:
No matter what payment option is available to cover the local improvement charge, from the looks of it the amount that the residents would need to pay is fairly substantial. The current estimated amount of money per resident is colossal (82k on average and it may be even higher).
It costs much less to maintain and even replace a whole septic system (and most residents with septic tanks on our street likely do not need to replace theirs for decades).
In addition to the above:
- Likely there will also be an interest charge if that amount is deferred which would push the final amount even higher.
- Residents are interested in having a lien on my property if the payment is deferred for whatever reason. This greatly reduces the flexibility upon the sale of a home (if required).
- The street will be dug up for a long time if this project goes ahead – and as we all know they are practically never finished on time and take longer than originally planned.
- Connecting to a sewer will require tearing up a lot of things inside residents’ homes.
Adding a municipal sewer will not improve the lives of the residents on Ridgewood Road – this will only benefit the contractor installing it and receiving close to $5M.
Ridgewood Road 