(A) Any property owner or group of property owners having need for a water and/or sanitary sewer main extension shall first petition the Council for the extension. The Town Council, in response to such a request, may elect to:
(1) Install the services at the town's expense and subsequently collect applicable tap fees, utility availability fees, and/or system development charges as described herein, from those who connect to the main to defray, in part, the cost;
(2) Jointly finance and install the extension in cooperation with the county in accordance with the intergovernmental agreement and subsequently collect applicable tap fees, utility availability fees, and/or system development charges, from those who connect to the main to defray the cost;
(3) Approve and allow the developer(s) to install the extension at his or her expense, in which case service may only commence upon full payment of applicable tap fees, utility availability fees and/or system development charges;
(4) Jointly finance the extension in cooperation with the developer(s) initiating the request and, subject to project bid procedures, to pay the difference in cost of larger mains when the town determines it is appropriate; or
(5) Deny the extension.
(B) The Town Council may extend water and/or sanitary sewer mains on its own volition without receipt of a petition from abutting property owners and may assess the cost or collect utility tap fees, availability fees and, if applicable, system development charges from those who connect to the main.
(C) Plans for proposed extension must be prepared by a registered professional engineer and submitted to the town and appropriate state agencies for their approval. The town shall determine the minimum distance for any extension of a water main or sanitary sewer main. In general, the minimum distance for an extension shall be across the frontage of the property being developed, or as otherwise determined by the town. Extensions will not be approved unless located within a town or state-maintained highway right-of-way or irrevocable easement obtained for the extension and dedicated to the town. Water and sewer mains must be constructed in full compliance with town specifications and standards and be accepted by the town as fulfilling these obligations. However, the Town Council may find just cause for some deviation in extreme hardship cases.
(D) If a water or sewer system is to be installed in a subdivision in the town's jurisdiction, and the system is to be assumed and operated by the town immediately upon completion of installation and prior to acceptance of the system by the town, a complete set of as-built construction plans must be provided for the system. The plans shall be prepared by a registered professional engineer and shall meet the utility requirements of the town, the Division of Environmental Health of the State Department of Environment and Natural Resources and/or the Division of Water Quality of the State Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The plans shall be reviewed and approved by the town's Public Works Director and the registered professional engineer retained by the developer or owner. The developer's engineer shall provide as-built plans in both paper and digital format and location maps for all valves, hydrants, manholes, pump stations, easements and service locations.
(E) The systems shall be designed in accordance with the requirements of the town and the state.
(F) The town, or developer, as determined by the town, will make applications for all necessary permits for extensions. No tie-ins to the existing system shall be made until all permits have been secured.
(G) The developer shall secure the services of a professional engineer to design the system in accordance with town specifications. The town will monitor all construction to ensure conformity with approved design drawings.
(H) All extensions must be within maintained road rights-of-way or dedicated rights of way and will not be activated until proof of the dedication has been provided to the town. The recordation in the Office of the Register of Deeds for the county, of a plat for a subdivision dedicating a street right-of-way for ingress and egress, or similar dedication in a deed recorded in the office, shall constitute dedication of the right-of-way for all public purposes, including the right to install public water or sewer mains.
(I) A sewer service line shall be provided from the main to each individually deeded lot. Each service shall be provided with a cleanout at the property line or the edge of right-of-way in compliance with this policy. Service sizes or additional services may be based upon fixture allowances as listed in the latest revision of the State Plumbing Code. Meters, expansion wheels, washers and locks meeting town specifications and of appropriate size for desired application shall be furnished by the town at the expense of the developer.
(J) All mains and meter services must be located in an irrevocable dedicated public right-of-way with a minimum width of 25 feet or larger as determined by the town and dedicated to the town for maintenance access. All water mains and polyethylene water service lines shall be installed with tracer wire attached in accordance with the Standard Specifications for AWWA Standards and the town land development guidelines. All water service lines located under a paved surface shall be Type "K" Copper.
(K) Where applicable, the curb shall be scribed at each service location with a (W) for water and/or an (S) for sewer.
(L) The size of water mains and sanitary sewer mains to be installed and other required system facilities are to be determined by the town in accordance with the recognized standards and accepted engineering practices and design, provided, however, the water line shall not be less than six inches in diameter and the sewer line be not less than eight inches in diameter. When the town determines that it is appropriate to install larger size mains than are necessary to serve the property of the petitioner and the town has elected to allow the developer to install the line(s) at his or her expense, the difference in the cost of the larger size facilities for which the extension was requested by the town, shall be paid for by reimbursement if determined to be appropriate by the town, provided proper bidding.
(M) Practices were followed for the construction of the lines as determined by the town.
(N) Individual meters are required for each individual house or building.
(O) If a private system owner/operator desires the town to assume ownership, operation and maintenance of his, her or its system the following criteria shall be met:
(1) Owner shall comply with all rules and regulations required by this section and approved specifications;
(2) All mains shall be improved to meet minimum requirements as stipulated in the approved specification;
(3) Individual units shall be provided with individual meters, radio-read, purchased from town;
(4) All water mains and meter services must be in a right of way with a minimum width of 25 feet, or larger as determined by the town, and dedicated to the town for operation and maintenance, and recorded with the county; and
(5) Once all system improvements have been made, the person responsible for the improvements agrees to indemnify and hold the town harmless from all loss, cost, damage, liability and expense for a period of one year from the date that the water or sewer system is accepted by the town.
(P) Maintenance and locating of services within a development shall be the responsibility of the developer until such time as the water and sewer system improvements have been approved and accepted by the town.
(Ord. passed - -2007)