Another group of Hart Highlands residents is moving forward on a long-awaited project to get rid of their aging septic systems and connect to city sanitary sewer lines.
On Monday night, city council authorized the start of a formal petition for 80 properties on Killarney Drive, Wildwood Crescent, Sussex Lane, Sussex Place and Calvin Lane to sign on to a new tax to finance the work.
If a majority (ie. properties that represent at least 50 per cent of the total assessed value of land and improvements) of landowners sign on, the city will prepare a local area service, which is a charge added to the property taxes in a specific area.
Following an unsuccessful plea in Feburary by the neighbourhood for grant support, a joint city-neighbourhood working group was formed to address the goals residents had for the project.
The majority of those involved cited getting the connection to they city system at the lowest possible price.
"In order to complete the project in the most cost-effective manner, construction will need to be done using city forces, and there is possibility that work may extend into 2017," said a staff report to council.
Upgrades to the existing water network are planned for completion at the same time which is expected to reduce costs by splitting the expense of geotechnical investigation and road and boulevard restoration work between the two projects.
Total estimated cost for the sanitary sewer work is $1.94 million, which works out to about $24,300 per lot, plus interest over a 20-year repayment period, beginning 2018.
Two other sections of Hart Highlands homes have already gone through the petition and installation process.
