Several subdivisions have contacted the Board, asking if we would take over their sewage collection and treatment systems. We set up a process to transfer ownership to the District. Typically, it includes an agreement to transfer the system, as well as the transfer of a deed for the real estate the treatment plant is located on. What it comes down to is this: Homeowner's Associations do not want to be in the sewer business! It is difficult for them to get payment from all the homeowners, and dealing with permits, testing, and expenses is difficult. We require a $500 application fee, half of which is used to pay our lawyer to review the covenants and legal basis of the transfer, and write the transfer agreement. The other half is used to pay our engineering firm, Strickland Engineering, to perform an engineering review of the system.
In the last year, the District has taken over ownership, maintenance, operation, and full responsibility for five systems. These include: Westbridge Place, Spring Lakes Estates, Forest Meadows, Arbor Trails, and Pleasant Lake Estates, for about 250 customers. Each homeowner or renter paid a $100 deposit to the District. The monthly bill is $35 for the first "yearly" billing cycle. In June, water usage records for the previous December, January, and February are used to come up with an average monthly water usage, in months when folks aren't watering lawns, washing cars, or filling swimming pools. The next July through June monthly bills for each residence are then set at $25 plus $2/1000 gallons of water used.