Apr 23, 2002 By Jackie Beranek 2 min read

Widmer did say however, that he could talk to local banks to see if a lower interest rate could be made available for people who don’t qualify for RUS low-interest loans or assistance. The tap-in fee was set by the board at $850.Residents who pay the fee before the end of April get a $100 discount. Board chairman John Malone did admit, however, that the $38 monthly fee could go up. “Just like taxes, sewage rates can go up,” said Malone. Widmer said, “It’s based on a flat rate not on water consumption. If people quite using water the authority will not have the money to pay back the 40-year debt so under those circumstances yes the rate would go up.”

Another question that was asked concerned the adjacent and adjoining property. Solicitor Don McCue explained that adjacent property is property that is running along a street while adjoining property is property that touches another’s property.

McCue said that mandatory connection to the sanitary sewer system is required for all occupied buildings located within 150 feet of a public sanitary sewer. He additionally said if a building is over 300 feet away from the public sanitary sewer residents are not required to tap-in.

Residents are not allowed to hook up downspouts, roof drains, surface drains, footer drains or any other area drainage into the sanitary sewer system.

In other matters, engineer Don Reho reported that the Leisenring-Rogerstown area project is 19.4 percent completed, Trotter is 38.3 percent completed, Adelaide-Crossland is 55.3 percent completed, the sewage plant is 39.5 percent completed and the sewage plant electrical work is 18.3 percent completed.