Fiscal Note
A total of 15 water service connections are expected to cost $50,000 in year 2012. Funding is included in the The Water Utility's 2012 Capital Budget Project #15, Systemwide Miscellaneous Projects, account number EW01-55210-810458. A total of 55 water service connections are expected to cost $150,000 in year 2013. Funding for these connections will be requested the Utility's 2013 Capital Budget.
Title
Amending Section 13.09 of the Madison General Ordinances to allow the Water Utility to pay for certain water service connections.
Body
DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: This ordinance addresses a specific issue that has arisen following the enactment of the residential water service connection ordinance (ORD-11-00170, File ID #24414). The connection ordinance requires certain residential properties with private wells to connect to City water service if the criteria set forth in the ordinance are met. As the Water Utility has begun to implement this ordinance, some well owners have raised concerns about the costs of laying the water service, particularly where no curb box is present. Indeed, of the 90-100 wells that are currently subject to the connection requirement, it is believed that 60-70 of them are without an existing service or curb box, or may have large setbacks or questionable access to a water main. By creating new Subsection 13.09(2), the Water Utility will have the authority to either install at its own cost or reimburse the property owners for the associated costs of extending water service from the main to a curb box at the property line that the property owner may connect to. Absent this amendment, the current language in Section 13.09 would prevent such payment by the Water Utility. This amendment to allow such payments would be consistent with the Water Utility's approach to replacing certain lead service lines and for abandoning some backyard mains, and it would be anticipated that this amendment will help facilitate compliance with the water service connection ordinance, thereby further protecting the aquifer and groundwater quality. The actual implementation of this ordinance by the Water Utility would still be subject to budget approval.
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
Section 13.09 entitled "Expense of Laying Service Pipes" of the Madison General Ordinances is amended to read as follows:
"13.09 EXPENSE OF LAYING SERVICE PIPES.
(1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), Tthe expense of laying service pipes from the main to the curb and of connecting such service pipes with the main shall be charged to and is made a lien upon the real estate to be served by such service pipes and all such service pipes shall be maintained and kept in repair under the supervision of the Water Utility Board at the expense of such property. Such service pipes shall be laid and connections made for the actual average cost thereof. No water shall be supplied until such expense has been paid. If said expense shall not be paid within thirty (30) days after the completion thereof, the same shall be levied and collected as a special tax upon the real estate so to be served.
(2) If a property is required to connect to the City water main pursuant to Sec. 13.07(2)(c), and if the connection is made within the time set forth by the General Manager in the notice to connect issued under Sec. 13.07(2)(e), the Water Utility may install at its own cost, or reimburse the property owner the cost incurred to connect, the service pipe from the main to the curb box."