OREGON
Sewer line planned for senior housing
Nearby property owners allowed to tap in for fee
4/28/2014Property owners at the southeast corner of Seaman and Coy roads will pay tap-in fees if they decide to connect to a sewer line that will be installed for a senior housing center planned across the street.
A Columbus Developer, AlcoreSenior LLC, intends to build 60 to 80 assisted living apartments and 12 to 20 independent living units on a 13-acre parcel inside the intersection corner that’s now a cornfield. The development will consist of a main building with assisted care units and cottages for independent living around it. Work is expected to begin in June.
The project has been planned since last year. It will be financed by the proceeds of $15 million in tax-exempt bonds issued by Oregon. Debt service would be the sole responsibility of Alcore Senior; Oregon taxpayers would not be at risk if the bonds went into default.
The developer has an option to purchase the land and has reached an agreement with the city on the installation of an 8-inch sanitary sewer line running along the east side of Coy and the south side of Seaman.
Under the agreement, Alcore Senior will pay for the $325,000 installation of the line. The city then will take possession of the line, assuming Alcor Senior’s debt less its $115,000 tap-in fee, and make the sanitary sewer available to the 13 properties on Coy and Seaman should the owners want to connect when their septic systems wear out.
“It’s a great opportunity to have a sanitary sewer on this corner and for our residents to have a chance to tie in,” said council member Kathleen Pollauf, chairman of council’s water and sewer committee. “Eventually, they’ll need it.”
She emphasized that no property owner would be required to connect to the line, which will be installed on the east side of Coy and the south side of Seaman.
Oregon Administrator Mike Beazley said the development and new sewer line were good for the community. “This is a project council and the administration have been aware of for a good while. We thought it was a good project for Oregon and for the neighbors.”
Oregon Service Director Paul Roman explained that Oregon eventually would recoup the cost of taking over the line as it received the tap-in fees from the neighbors.
The tap-in fees are calculated at a rate of $158.16 per frontage foot, and for the neighbors range from about $13,000 to $34,000. Neighborhood Freewill Baptist Church on Seaman, with 220 frontage feet, would have the highest cost.
Mr. Roman said the city would not be in control of the sewer line installation, but its inspectors would keep a close eye on it. “We’re not going to accept it unless it is right,” he told council members.
Contact Carl Ryan at: carlryan@theblade.com or 419-724-6095.