An incentive program for residents in two northeast Madras subdivisions that will cut the cost of connecting to the sewer in half will soon be adopted by the City Council.

The Sewer Connection Incentive program will reduce the System Development Charge of $5,289 by 50 percent.

The reduced charge will be offered to residents on developed properties for a six-month window following the completion of its sewer installation project. The goal is to reduce the financial burden of switching from a septic system to the city sewer.

The city was awarded a $1.1 million loan from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality in spring 2017 to extend the city sewer into the Bel-Air and Herzberg Heights subdivisions, where septic systems have been used for wastewater disposal. Construction on the project is slated to break ground this spring and will be completed in the fall.

For a single-family home, the cost to connect to the sewer would be a set dollar amount of $2,644 under the incentive program.

“We didn’t want to make it a burden for the people living there,” said Mayor Royce Embanks. “We can’t levy this without any kind of warning or opportunity to adjust to it. We also can’t make a blanket statement.”

The temporary program is only available to existing residents in the Bel-Air and Herzberg subdivisions and does not set a precedent for future projects or other residents in Madras, Embanks said.

Of the 97 lots within the Bel-Air and Herzberg subdivisions’ boundaries, 73 homes have the potential to connect to the sewer. Twelve lots are currently vacant, and 12 homes are already connected.

The incentive to connect to the new sewer lines will not be offered on vacant lots.

The reduced charge will only be available for six months following the completion of the sewer lines, and the specific date is still to be determined.

“Once the project is completed, we will issue notice of project completion, and that’s when the clock starts,” said Jeremy Green, Madras city attorney, at Tuesday’s council meeting.

“Within (the next) six months, people have the opportunity to take advantage of that waiver, and if they don’t take advantage of it, the waiver goes away.”

According to state law, environmental quality officials will not issue a permit for a private septic system for a property that is within 300 feet of a public sewer. In addition, city law states that when septic systems in these neighborhoods fail or need upgrades, the property owners will have to connect to the sewer rather than fix their septic systems.

“We are not requiring people to abandon their septic system right now,” said Jeff Hurd, public works director, “but when it does fail, you cannot re-permit a septic (tank). It leaves (the decision) up to the property owner. Is their septic going to last for 20 years or only five and whether or not they want to take advantage of this package.”

Connecting to the sewer can be a relief to many residents because septic tanks are notorious for failing, he said. The cost of replacing a septic tank greatly outweighs the cost of connecting to the sewer.

“We are taking care of the environment and giving people the opportunity to do that, as well,” Embanks said.

Residents in the subdivisions on a low or fixed income can seek additional incentive programs — such as one offered by NeighborImpact, a nonprofit supporting communities and low-income households.

In addition to the new sewer lines, the project will also repave former county roads that only came under the city’s jurisdiction in recent years. Jefferson County will fund the $125,000 for the road improvements as one of the conditions of the transfer deal.

— Reporter: 541-617-7829, acolosky@bendbulletin.com