City Council amends private sewer ordinance

COLUMBIA — The City Council amended an ordinance at its Monday night meeting so that residents will not have to pay for sewer district projects that eliminate private common collector sewers.

Residents with private collector sewers formerly paid half of the total cost to replace sewer lines, while the city paid the other half, the Missourian previously reported.

City Manager Bill Watkins said the change will allow the city to repair and reconstruct sewer lines without tax bills. He said that by concentrating on solving problems and just using the city’s share of the sewer replacement cost, the city can accomplish as much as it could have under the old policy.

Fourth Ward Councilman Jerry Wade pushed for the ordinance to be amended saying that the old system was burdensome and that the new system is better.

Linda Rootes, president of the North Central Neighborhood Association, said, “This change in policy would be a benefit to our neighborhood. I know there are some sewers in the neighborhood that probably need to be replaced, and this would certainly facilitate that.”