By RAELYNN RICARTE
News staff writer
June 27, 2007

Hood River County officials have reduced the costs to bring sewer lines into Windmaster Corner as much as possible and now want to get the job done.

Dave Meriwether, county administrator, said failing septic systems in the area have long posed a public health risk. He said installation of sewer main lines needs to begin by fall.

“We have crunched and re-crunched the numbers to get the monthly bill down to less than $100,” said Meriwether, “Now it’s time to take care of a problem that has been ongoing for more than 25 years.”

Ninety-eight homeowners between Windmaster Corner and Portland Drive can expect to pay $80 per month. That bill includes the city’s $40 service charge, $4-5 for maintenance of a special sewer district, and $35-40 to pay down the public debt.

Landowners will also bear the cost of bringing sewer pipe from the street to their residence. In 2006, that expense was tabulated at $1,000 for a 4-inch line that extended 75 feet. In addition, the City of Hood River charges a $1,400 connection fee for each new sewer customer.

The county has banked $500,000 in grant funds for the $2 million project. The local government hopes to defray costs by another $500,000 to $1 million with local, state and federal aid.

Windmaster properties included in the health hazard zone sit over a concrete-like mix of soil and stone. Since the sub layer cannot be penetrated by water runoff, the flooding of drain fields is commonplace. And that brings raw sewage to the surface that carries bacteria, viruses and possibly parasites.

In spite of the potential for a major illness, Windmaster residents have resisted hooking up to the city sewer because of the high costs involved. In November of 2004, voters in the area rejected a $1.5 million sewer bond that would have funded the project.

Meriwether said it is time to clear E.coli, giardiases and several strains of hepatitis out of the ditches and yards of Windmaster residents. He concurs with Ellen Larson, director of the county health department, that people have not already succumbed to sickness in that area because their water is piped from Hood River.

“There is just no way around the fact that we need to do something about this problem before someone gets seriously ill,” said Meriwether.

By forming a sewer district, the county can charge an operational fee. Officials are also hoping to bring in extra money by establishing an Urban Renewal District. The boundary for the proposed URD is much larger than the sewer district. The designated properties include all sites where septic systems have been known to fail. The sewer district encompasses only lots where the health risk is believed to be greatest.

“We think this is the first time that a URD has been established for this type of need. But we are doing everything that we can to keep the costs down for citizens,” said Meriwether.

Last week, he notified 10 agencies that receive property tax dollars from Windmaster about the county’s intent to form a URD. For 13 years — the goal for sewer construction payoff — the amount received by these agencies would be frozen. The extra money from valuation increases would be used by the county to pay for the installation of sewer main lines.

“The individual taxpayer doesn’t pay any more than he/she would have,” said Meriwether. “The tax entities are the ones who lose in terms of revenue.”