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/w <br /> .„ , � i, <br /> 1350�N[mu,StreeE �i <br /> C' lerviCCe,'M9d5'S'038 <br /> l%', <br /> 65I 4143232 or r<xX,651 429-8629 <br /> March 21, 2019 <br /> Honorable Mayor and City Council <br /> 1880 Main Street <br /> Centerville, MN 55038 <br /> Dear Mayor and Council: <br /> Earlier this year, the City Council adopted changes to Chapters 51.08 - 5 1.10 of City <br /> Code,related to the mandatory connection to city water and sewer service. In summary, <br /> the changes deleted the mandatory hook-up date and replaced it with mandatory <br /> connection upon one of three conditions: 1) sale of the property 2) construction of a <br /> major addition to the home, or 3) repair to the well> $1,500. <br /> Recently, a homeowner had a contractor do some repair work to their well. The <br /> contractor on site told our public works department that the repairs would exceed $1,500. <br /> Our public works staff informed the contractor and homeowner, that this repair would <br /> necessitate connection to city water. The homeowner proceeded with the repairs and <br /> later sent us a letter stating that the repairs did NOT exceed $1,500. <br /> Staff would like to have the Council consider one of two options: <br /> 1. Leave the ordinance as is,but establish a policy as to how to address this type <br /> of conflict. <br /> 2. Change the ordinance to allow repairs of any dollar amount, but disallow the <br /> drilling of a new well, for the purposes of providing potable water. <br /> Option 1 <br /> Option 1 has several challenges. Often, the city is unaware of repairs being made, <br /> because there is no permit required for this work, unless electrical elements are in need of <br /> upgrade. Additionally, the city is not a party to the contract between homeowner and <br /> contractor, so we cannot verify the cost of the repair. A policy might have us request a <br /> copy of the invoice from the contractor/homeowner, but this may invite fraud. The <br /> policy may allow us to subpoena the invoice, making fraudulent documents riskier, but <br /> this is sure to be met with disdain by the homeowner and seems a bit heavy-handed. <br /> Perhaps the most difficult part of this option is that when a person's well fails, they are <br /> 73 <br />