Agenda - Council - 03/14/2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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! I I I I :1 I I I I I I I I. I I I I I CASE CONSIDER GRANT APPLICATION FOR INDIVIDUAL SEWAGE TREATMENT SYSTEM (ISTS) INSPECTION PROGRAM By: Steve Jankowski, City Engineer Background: cMAt the February 22, 2000 meeting, Steffen, the City's representative to the Council Natalie Haas etropolitan Council, appeared to inform the Council that grand funds were being held for the ity of Ramsey at her request for an opportunity to receive up to $25,000. These funds would be eligible for an equal match of City monies necessary to institute a program for monitoring the estimated 4,046 individual septic systems in the city. It could be anticipated that the program would function as follows: 1. A database would be created identifying all ISTS's in the city. 2. Initially, one-third of the systems would need to be pumped or, at a minimum, inspected by a licensed pumper/inspector. 3. The property owner would need to notify the City of the pumping and/or the results of an inspection. 4. Properties not meeting the reporting requirements would be sent a follow-up notice. 5. Properties not responding to the follow-up notice would be referred for enforcement action, presumably inspection by the City with the costs being placed on the property as a special assessment. 6. Responding properties would be recorded and scheduled for another notice in three years. 7. Responding properties that report failures would receive orders to upgrade the system in accordance with the City's existing ordinance. 8. Responding properties that report suspected failures would be requested to have a more thorough investigation conducted. . ~? The estimated costs on the part of the _z~erty owner associated with a pumping and inspection would be in the range of $80-12~.e c~st of a detailed investigation of a suspected failed system is estimated to be $150. Within the City the program could be administered by the Inspection Department, Engineering, or Administrative Services. The cost of administering the program is estimated to be about $7 per system, based upon the experience of Columbus Township, which has had a similar program in place for over five years. This would relate to an annual City cost of approximately $9,500. Columbus Township recovers this cost through a pumping permit fee, which also expedites the reporting system. The minimum requirements for ISTS's are listed below: 1. Requirement for point of sale property transfer compliance inspections 2. Requirement for issuance of permits and inspection for new reconstruction construction and