Nevada’s fastest growing county raises sewer hookup fees

AP

Saturday, Feb. 19, 2005 | 10:57 a.m.

YERINGTON, Nev. - Commissioners in Nevada's fastest growing county have decided to dramatically increase the fee for new residential sewer hookups.

In a 4-1 vote Thursday, Lyon County commissioners raised the fee to $9,183 for the booming Dayton area, about 12 miles east of Carson City.

Previously, two rates had been in effect there - $5,525 for areas north of the Carson River and $3,407 for areas south of the river. The new fee becomes one of the highest in the state.

Commissioners said the increase is needed to support improvements and expansion of wastewater facilities in anticipation of 16,250 new homes planned for the area over the next eight years.

"This might not be exactly what developers want, but we're looking at tremendous projected growth. The cost of doing business is what it is," commissioner Chairman Bob Milz told the Reno Gazette-Journal.

Builders expressed concern over the increase, saying the cost would have to be passed on to home buyers.

James Bawden, president of Landmark Homes and Development, contends cost estimates for future plant expansion are overstated and planned contingency funds are greater than necessary.

He said connection fees in the Dayton area would be about $2,000 higher than neighboring counties.

Based on Landmark's calculations, Bawden added, the connection fee should be in the $6,500 to $7,500 range.

County Manager Donna Kristaponis said numerous meetings were held with county staff to cover the needs of home builders.

"We're essentially building a new system. And we're doing it at a time when steel and concrete costs are extremely high," Kristaponis said.

Two sewage plants serve the Dayton area. The increase in sewer hookup fees will allow the county to rebuild one of the plants and make improvements to the other. In addition, a new plant will be built in nearby Mound House.

County Utilities Director Mike Workman said wastewater improvements needed to handle projected growth would cost about $117 million.

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Information from: Reno Gazette-Journal, http://www.rgj.com

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