The Leavenworth County Commission unanimously approved for a public hearing to take place regarding the amendment of Sewer District 3’s 2009 budget.
The commission approved the motion after it convened as the sewer district’s board of directors during Thursday’s meeting.
Grinder pumps in Sewer District 3 “have been failing at a rate that is much higher than what was budgeted for,” County Administrator Heather Morgan said.
The cost to repair grinder pumps also has increased, Morgan said.
She said the board of directors for Sewer District 3 will need to increase the sewer district’s 2009 budget about $100 per lot. Public notification about the budget change will take place in the Leavenworth Times, and a formal hearing will take place on Oct. 16, Morgan said.
“It’s really one of those things that we don’t have a choice about,” she said. “It’s a user fee, and unfortunately that equipment is reaching the end of its useful life.”
Commission Chairman Clyde Graeber asked if the commission should mail a notice to each individual household within the sewer district.
“If we get this in time, this will just be part of their tax bill,” Morgan said.
The Sewer District 3 equipment reserve fund will be depleted this year, Morgan said. Public works will need about $12,200 in equipment reserve funds to cover maintenance calls for the remainder of the year, said John Forslund, county public works staff engineer.
In 2007, Sewer District 3 had 29 calls for grinder pump repairs. Public works has received 31 calls for grinder pump repairs in 2008, Forslund said. Each call in 2008 has cost about $670, Forslund said.
County Counselor David Van Parys said the maintenance repairs “are not discretionary expenses.”
“It’s not as if one individual home could be charged the full amount of that pump,” Van Parys said. “They’re all hooked together.”
In other business:
* PLANNING AND ZONING — Chris Dunn, director of county planning and zoning, provided his final quarterly report as director. Dunn submitted his letter of resignation on Monday, and his last day with the county will be Oct. 24.
Dunn requested that the commission appoint an interim director of planning and zoning who would start Oct. 25. He provided the commission with no suggestions for an interim director.
“We’ll figure something out by then,” Morgan said.
He also said he has concerns about the director job description that has been advertised since Monday.
Dunn said the County Road 1 moratorium expired on Tuesday. He said he has directed planning and zoning staff members to provide written notification to those landowners who were denied actions during the moratorium.
