Administrative Regulation 15.02-2

ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATION:   AR: 15.02-2 DATE APPROVED: November 16, 2010
SUBJECT: Utility System Connection Fee ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT: Water Resources

POLICY:

It is the intent of the Board of County Commissioners to allow owners of existing residential or commercial units that are required to connect to the County's utility system the option to pay their connection fees as an additional monthly service charge over a prescribed time period. Water and/or Sewer Deposits are not included under this Policy, because they are eligible for reimbursement to the property owner. The Connection Fees eligible to be paid under this option. 
  1. Water Connection Fees 
    1. Water Capacity Fee (including AFPI – if applicable) 
    2. Water off-Site / extension Fee 
    3. Meter install Fee 
    4. Water Service Tap Fee (including Lateral Fee – if applicable) 
    5. Water Service Tap Inspection Fee 
    6. Water Turn on Fee 
    7. Plan Review Fees of Re-Review Fees (if applicable) 
  2. Sewer Connection Fees 
    1. Sewer Capacity fee (including AFPI – if applicable) 
    2. Sewer Off-Site / Extension Fee 
    3. Sewer Tap Fee (including Lateral Fee-if applicable)
    4. Sewer Tap Inspection Fee 
    5. Plan Review Fees or Re-Review Fees (if –applicable)
The Connection Fee option is not available for new construction of residential, commercial or industrial units, including mobile homes, modular homes, and platted developments. All utility fees, including Connection Fee(s) and deposits, for new construction are to be paid through the building process prior to issuance of a building permit.

PROCEDURE:
  1. Property owners must contact the Utilities Division to enter into a “Connection Fee Installment Lien Agreement” (“CFIL Agreement”) for the connection fee(s) option at least 30 days prior to connecting to the County's utility system. 
  2. The CFIL Agreement will require that the property owner agree to the following terms: 
    1. Residential Property: payment of the Water and/or Sewer Connection Fee(s) will be for a ten-year (120 months) period. The monthly principal and interest charges will equal the cost of amortizing the Connection Fees at 6% for 120 months. 
    2. Commercial and Industrial Property: payment of the Water and/or Sewer Connection Fee(s) will be for a ten year (120 months) period. The monthly principal and interest charges will equal the cost of amortizing the Connection Fees at 6% for 120 months.
    3. Commercial/Industrial Property Decommissioned Package Plant: payment of the Sewer Connection Fee(s) may be up to a twenty-year (240 months) period if the applicant has a Department of Environmental Protection permitted on-site wastewater treatment plant and desires to connect to the County system. The monthly principal and interest charges will equal the cost of amortizing the Connection Fees at 6% for up to 240 months. 
    4. The Connection Fee will be included on a separate monthly utility bill sent to the billing address on record to the property owner. Failure to pay the monthly installment principal and interest charges will result in utility service being discontinued to the property. Service will not be reestablished until all past due amounts, including interest, are paid. Customers that pay the past due charges will be allowed to remain on the connection charge option program for the balance of the original CFIL Agreement. 
EXEMPTION:

When the County Administrator or designee finds that an applicant seeking this option would result in undue hardship, an exemption from any one or more such restriction may be granted by the Board of County Commissioners to the extent necessary to ameliorate such undue hardship and to the extent such exemption can be granted without impairing the intent and purpose of this Policy.

FOOTNOTES & REFERENCES TO RELATED AR's: Supersedes AR 15.02-1 dated January 25, 2005.