City May Change Hookup Rules Latecomer Fees Could Be Collected Indefinitely Under Proposal

Thu., Aug. 10, 2000

By Mike Prager mikeprager15@gmail.com (509) 459-5454

The city of Spokane is proposing changes in the way it collects fees for hooking up to the water and sewer improvements near the Qualchan Hills and Eagle Ridge subdivisions.

Until now, the city levied latecomer fees for property owners wanting to tie into the systems. But latecomer fees can be levied for only 15 years.

Landowners could avoid the charges by waiting until after 2013 to develop their property, city officials said.

The City Council is scheduled to consider two ordinances on Monday to change latecomer fee arrangement to one in which hookup fees are collected. Hookup fees can be collected indefinitely.

The change includes a reimbursement agreement allowing the developers of Eagle Ridge reimbursements for the partial costs of the two systems.

Genstar Land Co. Northwest paid to have the water and sewer lines installed from U.S. 195 to its development on the hillside southwest of the highway at Meadow Lane Road.

The latecomer fees were approved in 1998 and had been levied on property owners as they developed their land. The money went to Genstar because Genstar paid for the two systems in order to open its land for houses.

Under the new plan, the city will pay Genstar $180,000 over 15 years in lieu of Genstar receiving latecomer fees for the water and sewer installations.

The city will then recoup those payments through hookup charges to be paid by property owners tieing into the new systems later.

The hookup charge for sewer is $2,340 an acre. The hookup charge for the water system is set at $1,855 an acre.

“It’s one way to clean up the situation,”said Eldon Brown of city’s the engineering services department.

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