By Vanessa Fultz, Democrat Reporter
March 25, 2008 12:00 pm
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vanessa.fultz@gaflnews.com
The city council has voted not to extend a sewer line to a resident on Douglas Avenue after city officials had promised the resident service.
The issue first surfaced on Feb. 26, when Public Works Director Todd Hunt asked the council to approve a bid by Music Construction for $32,850 to extend a sewer line to a lot owned by Denise D. Thomas and several other lots on Douglas Avenue. The request was tabled at that meeting and arose again March 11.
Roy Rogers, building official and zoning administrator, said the previous developer never ran utilities to those lots, all of which are vacant.
Thomas had previously paid impact and tap fees and purchased a permit to place a mobile home on the property with the intention of renting it.
Councilmen Bennie Thomas and Don Boyette objected to the project because another resident, Maeola Wells, has been denied the same services.
"She's been down here numerous times...and like this rain over the weekend, her tank just floods," Boyette said.
"And here's somebody that's put a house in there and going to rent it out and we need to spend $32,000 in order for her to make $150-$200 a month," he added.
City Administrator Bob Farley has said because Wells was located in a low-lying area, she needed an additional device to pump waste into the city sewer system. He said if Wells purchased the device, which costs about $2,000, the city would hook her up.
Other councilmen asked why they were never informed of the bid to begin with.
"It was put out to bid prior to the council having knowledge of it," Councilman John Hale said.
"If you're going to put this kind of money in a sewer system line, the council needs to know it before it goes to bid," Thomas said.
Boyette asked how many other lots the line would service.
"It has the ability for serving five other homes," Farley said. "They need sewer to develop."
City Attorney Ernie Sellers said the city should not pay to extend a line for sewer and water to property that doesn't already have the hookups available.
"When we go in and put service to five lots you are enhancing the value of those five lots substantially," Sellers said. "You've never in the past improved the value of somebody's property by running utilities past it without them paying for it. That has always been my understanding."
Councilman Mark Stewart asked what procedures the city should use to determine which residents are allowed such hookups.
Sellers suggested the council determine which residents to serve by taking requests at a budget hearing. Otherwise the public works director would make such determinations.
The council decided to reject the bid and disallow the sewer line extension.
In addition, the council asked Sellers to investigate the ramifications of Denise Thomas being denied a service she had been promised.
"I went out of my pocket and spent thousands of dollars," said Thomas Wednesday. "I feel the city should be held accountable for services promised and not rendered."
Thomas said besides paying for tap and impact fees and a permit, she has also paid to have the lot cleaned and maintained.
She said she has contacted her lawyer and the matter is under review.
Farley said Monday that Thomas would be reimbursed for all fees she has paid.
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