Marble Hill ponders how residents will pay for sewer fixes

MARBLE HILL, Mo. -- As Marble Hill works to satisfy the requirements of the Department of Natural Resources about the city's antiquated sewer system, the board of aldermen is trying to determine how best to make the cost-sharing possible for homeowners.

Ron Lutes, retiring city administrator, told the board Monday night mandated state testing revealed about 100 violations on private property. While there is money to pay for violations on city property, private-property owners will have to pay to remedy the violations on their land.

Violations range from the relatively inexpensive -- not having a cap on a pipe -- to costing up to $1,000 to repair. Lutes said he was bringing the matter up now so the city can be prepared to handle questions property owners will have about payment.

"We have all kinds of situations in town," he said. "We have property owners, renters, empty houses and the elderly and poor people who can't afford the cost. All need to get fixed. I want your input on how to approach this."

Other property the city may encounter include lots where houses once stood, but the sewer system is still there and needs to be repaired or removed.

The state is pressuring the city to bring its water and sewer systems up to standard.

"We can no longer let things go," Lutes said. "We have to get it done."

But explain that to an elderly person on a fixed income who may face an unexpected bill he or she can't pay. And, Lutes said, there may be property owners who will ignore such a bill.

Aldermen Kenneth Trentham and Beverly Johnson spoke in favor of letting some residents make payments until the bill is satisfied. City attorney Alan Beussink cautioned the board members about getting into that much record-keeping.

"You don't want to become a bank," he said. "You're a city."

An option to disconnect service is there, but some on the board didn't want to go that far. Mayor Nick Hendricks suggested giving a rebate or discount to property owners who pay for repairs within a certain time frame or who request an extension.

"We have to do something to help them," he said.

The board considered putting a lien on property for non-payment, but because the city levies no property taxes, collecting would be difficult, and settling the matter would become more expensive if it had to go to court.

The state, however, is not likely to be lenient about people who drag their payments for work completed. Trentham mentioned an incident years ago when a property owner in Glenallen, Missouri, refused to pay for repairs, and the state threatened to evict him.

Smith and Co. of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, the city's engineering firm, has seen Poplar Bluff go through a similar situation. The board ultimately decided to research how Poplar Bluff handled its problems with non-payment and discuss the matter further during the board's Jan. 25 meeting.

Pertinent address:

Marble Hill, Mo.