VILLAS — Empowered by an ordinance passed by Lower Township Council last month requiring residents to connect to the municipal water system when water mains are installed in the street in front of their homes, Lower Township Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA) passed resolutions setting connection fees for water and sewer at a March 4 meeting.
The connection fees for residential dwelling units for water or sewer were set at $1,600.
Small store/office owners with under 2,000 square feet will pay $1,800 per unit while the commercial/industrial fee was set a $2,100 which includes Laundromats, motels, fish markets, garages and auto repair, restaurants and bars, marinas, car washes, churches, schools, barber and beauty shops, assembly halls, swimming pools, light industrial, seafood processing facilities and any stores or offices over 2,000 square feet.
MUA Commissioners also passed a resolution mirroring the township’s ordinance requiring mandatory connections when water becomes available to a homeowner.
The township’s ordinance requires homeowners, once a water main is installed in their street, to make application to MUA for connection and pay annual user fees within 12 months of being notified of the availability of municipal water.
If a homeowner does not connect to the water system within one year, the property owner shall pay the annual minimum users fee and a lien will be placed on their property in the amount of the connection fee and any delinquent user fees.
The resolution notes the lien and any payments are in addition to any and all other remedies the township and MUA have to effectuate mandatory connection of a property.
The connection fee may be paid over five years in equal, yearly payments.
MUA Commissioners voted to advertise for bids for the construction of the Millman Water Tower. Moving forward with tower construction was dependent upon a mandatory water connection ordinance being in place in order to receive USDA grant funding.
MUA Executive Director Mike DeMarcantonio said he had visited the county Planning Board on the previous day and received a GIS map of Villas and Town Bank, which will be submitted to the state Home Mortgage Financing Agency (HMFA) for blanket approval of those areas. It would allow homeowners to borrow money for up to 10 years to finance connecting to the water system.
He said county Health Department Director Kevin Thomas wrote a letter to HMFA which indicated both the state Department of Environmental Protection and the heath department have tested private wells in Villas and Town Bank and found widespread contamination of constitutes that have exceeded the safe drinking water standard for consumption. The letter noted high levels of volatile organics, sodium chlorides and saltwater intrusion.
Thomas’ letter supported extension of water lines and mandatory connections.
DeMarcantonio said the meeting marked his one year anniversary with MUA.
“The first year is usually the hardest and this year was no exception,” he said with a laugh.
DeMarcantonio said he and MUA Commissioners would continue to review all facets of the utilities operation to remove waste and redundancy and restore the confidence of residents.
MUA Commissioner Wayne Weisman said residents have been receiving letters in the mail offering insurance for water lines run from the meter at the curb to homes when connecting to the water system. He said he wanted residents to know MUA has nothing to do with the solicitation.
MUA Board Solicitor Peter Tourison said homeowner’s insurance would cover the pipe.
DeMarcantonio said the company offering the coverage was reputable but the insurance was similar to buying extended when buying an appliance or television set or the monthly maintenance fee paid to the telephone company.
He said he would be contacting all local plumbers to get their best price for running a water line from the meter at the curb to a resident’s home. MUA runs a water line only to the meter at the curb. The homeowner is responsible for the line from the curb connecting their home to the system.
DeMarcantonio said residents that need to connect at this time would receive a spreadsheet of plumber’s fees along with a letter informing them they must connect.
Avalon – It absolutely makes sense for means testing for Social Security. We need to trim benefits for anyone 50 or younger, and give them better savings options. Anyone 50 or older should be grandfathered….
