1336.11 SANITARY SEWER SURCHARGE REDUCTION AND ELIMINATION POLICY.
(a) Background.
(1) The City of Highland Heights recognizes that inflow and infiltration (I/I) of storm water into the sanitary sewer system during rain events exists. It is the City's policy to work with the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Service, who is contracted to maintain the sanitary sewer system, to address problems related to I/I. It is the goal of the City and County to remove inflow and infiltration from the system wherever possible and practical.
(2) As a measure to afford property owners some level of protection and relief from inflow and infiltration backup into their basements while the City and County work to reduce and eliminate I/I from the system, the City hereby establishes the following policies and procedures for the installation of backflow devices or other measures necessary to reduce and/or eliminate the basement flooding caused by a surcharge into the sanitary sewer system.
(b) Funding.
(1) The City will establish a fund to be used for the program.
(2) The fund will be used to reimburse property owners for costs incurred in the installation of backflow devices and/or the reconfiguration of plumbing to eliminate or reduce basement flooding caused by surcharge of the sanitary sewer main.
(3) The total number of reimbursements available in any calendar year shall be limited to the appropriation of funds for the program established in the yearly appropriations ordinance.
(4) The City will make request to Cuyahoga County for reimbursement of funds used for this program from sanitary sewer maintenance fees collected by the County for maintenance of the sewer collection system.
(5) A one-time reimbursement for the installation of backflow devices and/or the reconfiguration of plumbing shall not exceed one hundred percent (100%) of the total cost of labor and materials in an amount not to exceed five hundred dollars ($500.00) per property.
(6) Property owners failing to follow the policies and procedures established contemporaneously herewith by the City may be deemed ineligible for reimbursement.
(c) Permitting.
(1) In order to qualify for this funding, property owner shall first be required to complete an application for reimbursement.
(2) Prior to the commencement of any work to be performed, the contractor must register with the City of Highland Heights Building Department and a permit must be obtained from the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works.
(3) The CCDPW will make an inspection of the property’s existing plumbing to determine the following:
A. That all private side plumbing is properly connected to the public system;
B. Suitability of the planned method of relief (i.e. a backflow device, stand pipe, overhead plumbing, etc.) and;
C. Verification that inflow and infiltration (I/I) surcharge from the public sewer system may be an attributable cause of basement flooding.
(4) If the inspection reveals I/I emanating from private property or other causes which would prove the proposed relief method ineffective, the property owner will be required to correct the deficiency.
(5) Contractors are required to be registered with the Cuyahoga County Department of Public Works, Division of Sanitary Engineers and with the City of Highland Heights Building Department. All work performed is to be permitted and inspected by CCDPW.
(6) Verification of the completion of all work and approval of the reimbursement application to the satisfaction of the Building Commissioner and recommendation that the Director of Finance make reimbursement to the property owner.
(d) Moral Claims.
(1) In cases where special and/or unique conditions exists, property owners may seek compensation for expenses beyond those authorized by this policy through the moral claims process as set forth by the City.
(2) Property owners who have installed or modified plumbing as a means to prevent a back up of the public sanitary sewer system prior to the adoption of this policy may seek reimbursement through the moral claims process.
(Ord. 19-2023. Passed 12-12-23.)