[Ord. No. 00-01 §1, 1-5-2000]
The City does hereby levy and impose on all residential property having six (6) or less dwelling units a fee of seven dollars ($7.00) per calendar quarter, totaling twenty-eight dollars ($28.00) per year, to provide funds for the repair of defective lateral sewer service lines on residential property having six (6) or less dwelling units.
[Ord. No. 00-30 §1, 4-19-2000; Ord. No. 15-15 §1, 5-20-2015]
The following words shall have the meanings given them by this Section:
ADMINISTRATOR
Administrative Assistant to the Mayor or his designee.
CITY
City of Bridgeton.
REIMBURSE OR REIMBURSEMENT OR REIMBURSE AN OWNER
This term shall include payment by the City directly to a contractor on behalf of a property owner pursuant to Section 121.080 below.
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
Real estate identified by a single locator number which is assessed as residential by the Assessor of Revenue and which contains six (6) or less dwelling units.
SEWER LATERAL
That portion of a residential property's sanitary sewer piping that runs between the foundation of the residence and a sewer main or private sewage disposal field or tank, not including treatment tanks, pumps or other equipment, but shall not include any sanitary piping that is located under any part of a building.
SEWER LATERAL REPAIR
The patching or replacement of a defective sewer lateral line, including associated digging and the replacement of dirt and sodding of affected areas. Sewer lateral repair shall not include replacement of landscaping or ornamental structures or repair or replacement of structural facilities.
[Ord. No. 21-34, 11-17-2021]
[Ord. No. 00-30 §1, 4-19-2000]
There is hereby established a special revenue fund, to be designated as the Sewer Lateral Repair Fund, in which shall be deposited in a special account all monies collected pursuant to the sewer lateral fee imposed by Section 121.010. All monies received thereby shall be deposited in this fund upon receipt, together with all interest generated on deposited funds, and shall stand appropriated upon receipt for payment of defective sewer lateral repair costs as provided herein.
[Ord. No. 00-30 §1, 4-19-2000; Ord. No. 15-15 §1, 5-20-2015]
For sewer lateral repairs commenced after July 1, 2000, the City shall reimburse owners of residential property by payment directly to such property owner's contractor pursuant to Section 121.080 below, for approved sewer lateral repair costs of up to ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00), and for fifty percent (50%) of approved sewer lateral repair costs between ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) and twenty thousand dollars ($20,000.00), in any one (1) calendar year as provided in this Code.
[Ord. No. 00-30 §1, 4-19-2000]
A. 
If there are sufficient funds in the Sewer Lateral Repair Fund to reimburse an owner as provided herein, the City shall pay such reimbursement from the Sewer Lateral Repair Fund.
B. 
If there are not sufficient funds in the Sewer Lateral Repair Fund to reimburse an owner as provided herein, then:
1. 
If the City has appropriated funds from which to advance such reimbursement, the City shall advance such reimbursement from such appropriated funds. The City shall thereafter be repaid for such advancements at such time and from time to time as funds may become available in the Sewer Lateral Repair Fund to repay such advancements.
2. 
If the City has not appropriated funds from which to advance such reimbursement, approved claims for sewer lateral repair costs shall be paid in the order that they were properly filed with the City as funds become available for payment.
[Ord. No. 00-30 §1, 4-19-2000; Ord. No. 15-15 §1, 5-20-2015]
A. 
In order to be eligible for reimbursement for repair costs, a property owner must comply with the following requirements:
1. 
An owner experiencing blockage must first have the lateral cleaned at the owner's expense, which is not reimbursable by the City.
2. 
If cleaning the line does not correct the problem, a television inspection or other adequate inspection approved by the Administrator must be made to identify the problem with the lateral.
3. 
The owner may use any licensed drain tile layer that is registered with and in good standing with the Public Works Department of St. Louis County, Missouri. Repairs that exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00) will require at least three (3) written price quotes or estimates to be furnished to the office of the Administrator, and the reimbursement will be based on the lowest qualified price quote. However, if emergency conditions exist as shown by the owner, only two (2) qualifying bids will be required if the Administrator makes a written determination that:
a. 
The amount to be paid for the repairs is reasonable; and
b. 
Emergency conditions exist.
4. 
The owner must then file a claim with the City Clerk on a form containing such information as prescribed by the Administrator. The claim form shall provide such information as specified in the form and must include:
a. 
A copy of a statement from a licensed drain layer stating the nature of the blockage and why it cannot be corrected by cleaning;
b. 
A copy of three (3) or more qualified bids (unless fewer are required in the case of an emergency); and
c. 
A copy of the owner's paid real estate tax bill showing the sewer lateral fee has been paid.
[Ord. No. 00-30 §1, 4-19-2000; Ord. No. 15-15 §1, 5-20-2015]
A. 
The costs of sewer lateral repairs commenced after July 1, 2000, the effective date of the sewer lateral repair fee, to be included in the amount eligible for reimbursement from the Fund shall be determined as follows:
1. 
The following costs are eligible for reimbursement:
a. 
The cost of the television inspection or other adequate inspection.
b. 
The cost of the repair project to include the excavation, repair or replacement of the defective portion of the line, backfill, removal of all debris and sodding of the disturbed portion of the yard, the repair or replacement of all sidewalks, driveways and streets damaged or removed to accomplish the repair, and the cost of rerouting a lateral being repaired or replaced to avoid structures above the damaged portion of the lateral, but not to exceed the amount of the lowest bid by a qualified bidder for repairs that exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00).
[Ord. No. 21-34, 11-17-2021]
2. 
The following costs are not eligible for reimbursement:
a. 
Any cost occasioned by any structures such as fences, walls, sheds, garages, buildings or other structures in the path of the lateral or above the damaged portion of the lateral is not eligible for reimbursement, other than costs to reroute a lateral being replaced to avoid such structures.
b. 
The cost of any damage to sprinkler systems, trees, shrubs, flowers, landscaping or any other damage caused by the project or the contractor for the project shall not be eligible for reimbursement and shall not be the responsibility of the City.
c. 
The initial cleaning to be done at the owner's expense.
[Ord. No. 00-30 §1, 4-19-2000; Ord. No. 15-15 §1, 5-20-2015]
A. 
If the Administrator determines that the claim for reimbursement complies with the requirements of this Chapter, the Administrator shall approve reimbursement for the eligible costs, up to the amount of the lowest bid by a qualified bidder for repairs that exceed one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500.00), subject to the maximum reimbursement provided in this Chapter.
B. 
After the work has been completed, the owner shall file with the City Clerk an application prescribed by the Administrator, which shall include a statement that the work has been completed, stating the final charges for such work, with such supporting documents as prescribed by the Administrator. Upon receiving such application and required supporting materials, the Administrator shall authorize payment from the fund in:
1. 
An amount not to exceed the lower of:
a. 
The lowest bid by a qualified bidder for performing work reimbursable hereunder as evidenced by the materials submitted to the Administrator; and
b. 
The actual cost of the work plus;
2. 
The cost of the television or other adequate inspection, all subject to the maximum allowable amount of reimbursement provided by this Chapter.
C. 
The payment described in Section 121.080(B) shall be made by the City directly to the contractor after Administrator determines that:
1. 
Owner has submitted all information required by Section 121.080(B) above; and
2. 
All such required information is in order.
D. 
The City has no obligation or responsibility for the performance by the contractor and no responsibility for any damages caused to the owner's property by reason of the sewer line defects.
[Ord. No. 00-30 §1, 4-19-2000]
Any owner who has paid a sewer lateral repair fee which was assessed against such owner's property which is not subject to such assessment may file a claim for a refund of such fee with the Administrator on a form prescribed by the Administrator with such proof of erroneous assessment and payment as prescribed by the Administrator. The Administrator shall refund to the owner out of the Sewer Lateral Repair Fund any such erroneous assessment.
[Ord. No. 00-30 §1, 4-19-2000]
The Administrator shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the purposes and intent of the Sewer Lateral Repair Program to protect the public safety, health and welfare and to administer the program in an effective, efficient and timely manner. All rules and regulations shall be kept on file with the City Clerk after being first approved by resolution of the City Council.
[Ord. No. 00-30 §1, 4-19-2000]
The City has no obligation or responsibility for the performance of the contractor and no responsibility for any damages caused to the owner's property by reason of the sewer lateral defect.