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City of Northwoods, MO
St. Louis County
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Code
New Laws (6) Index
[Ord. No. 99-5 §1, 5-20-1999; Ord. No. 00-01 §§1 — 2, 3-14-2000]
A. 
The Residential Sewer Lateral Repair Program covers the cost of repairing a defective residential sewer lateral in Northwoods. Under this new program, homeowners pay a twenty-eight dollar ($28.00) fee which establishes a fund that will cover the cost of repairing a defective sewer lateral.
B. 
The portion of the residential sewer lateral that is covered under the program is the portion that runs from the foundation of a house to the sewer main. The homeowner is responsible for the cost of repair or replacement of their sewer lateral inside their home. The program is responsible for covering the repaired sewer lateral site with dirt and will seed the area.
[Ord. No. 00-01 §§1 — 2, 3-14-2000]
A. 
Blockage/sinkhole recognized by citizen/agency.
B. 
Citizen calls in "plumber".
C. 
Initial cabling performed if blockage.
D. 
Adequate cabling does not fix the problem.
E. 
Citizen applies to Northwoods.
1. 
Application must be completed by property owner.
2. 
Endorsed by a licensed plumber/drain layer.
3. 
Includes verification that adequate cabling has been performed.
4. 
Includes sufficient information to "bid the repair".
5. 
Cable attempt, location of blockage/sinkhole, location of lines, relation to the street, etc.
6. 
Includes guarantee of access to make repair.
7. 
Indemnifies the City of Northwoods.
F. 
All items to this point done at citizen's expense.
G. 
Sewer Lateral Program funding begins.
H. 
City of Northwoods reviews the requests.
1. 
Determines eligibility for the program.
2. 
Determines any special repair requirements.
a. 
TV survey camera to limit repair costs.
b. 
Street repairs required.
c. 
Collateral damage — porch, retaining walls, etc.
I. 
City of Northwoods requests three (3) bids.
1. 
From all licensed drain layers.
2. 
Bids due in twenty-four (24) to forty-eight (48) hours — specific bid format, standard plans and specs.
3. 
Award to low, responsible bidder.
4. 
Bid includes application for appropriate permits.
J. 
Contractor has two (2) weeks to complete the repairs.
1. 
Inspections called in by contractor — schedule by County.
2. 
Inspections completed by Code Enforcement Inspectors.
3. 
Liquidated damages for slow performance.
K. 
Contractor invoices City of Northwoods.
1. 
Invoice includes certification of prevailing wage.
2. 
Invoice validated based on code enforcement inspections.
3. 
Payments made direct to contractor.
L. 
Complaints system for citizen feedback.
M. 
Annual program review to:
1. 
Validate annual fee.
2. 
Assure program efficiency.
[Ord. No. 00-01 §§1 — 2, 3-14-2000]
A. 
The homeowner completes an application for reimbursement. The applications are available at Northwoods. You may call 885-8000. Along with the application, the homeowner must submit a copy of the itemized list of repairs from the St. Louis County licensed drain layer who performed the work.
B. 
The homeowner's application is reviewed. Northwoods ownership of the property and that real estate taxes have been paid. Also, the proper permit must have been issued for the work.
C. 
Northwoods reviews the request and determines if the homeowner is eligible for the program and determines if any special requirements are needed such as:
1. 
A survey camera of the sewer lateral to limit repair costs.
2. 
Street repairs caused by repairing the sewer lateral.
3. 
Other damage that may occur — porch, etc.
D. 
Northwoods requests three (3) bids from a pool selected from licensed drain layers who are interested in participating in the program.
1. 
Bids are due in twenty-four (24) to forty-eight (48) hours, which must include standard plans, specifications and an application for the appropriate permits.
2. 
The job is awarded to the lowest, responsible bidder.
E. 
The contractor has two (2) weeks to complete the repairs.
1. 
Inspections are called in by the contractor and scheduled by St. Louis County.
2. 
Inspections are completed by St. Louis County Code Enforcement Inspectors.
F. 
The Contractor invoices Northwoods for the repair work performed.
1. 
The invoice is validated based on approved code enforcement inspections.
2. 
The payment for the repair is made directly to the contractor.
[Ord. No. 00-01 §§1 — 2, 3-14-2000]
A. 
When a blockage or sinkhole is noticed by the homeowner, he/she will hire a sewer cleaner or a licensed plumber or drain layer to run a cable through the sewer lateral to clear the blockage. This is the responsibility of the homeowner to hire a St. Louis County licensed plumber or drain layer and pay for his/her services.
If the sewer cleaner, plumber or drain layer finds that the sewer lateral has a breakage and that cabling will not correct the problem, then the homeowner proceeds with Subsection (B).
B. 
The homeowner applies to Northwoods for repair/replacement of their sewer lateral. Applications are obtained by picking up an application from the City Hall located at 4600 Oakridge.
1. 
The application must be completed by a St. Louis County licensed plumber or drain layer and must include sufficient information to "bid the repair", i.e. cable attempt, location of the stoppage, location of sewer lines, etc.
2. 
The application must include a copy of a receipt from the licensed plumber/drain layer who cabled the sewer lateral.
[Ord. No. 00-01 §§1 — 2, 3-14-2000]
A. 
Focus on the broken part of the sewer lateral.
B. 
Avoid collateral damages — as much as economically reasonable.
C. 
Restore to minimum occupancy standards.
1. 
Landscaping — only backfill and reseed grass.
2. 
No trees, shrubs or flowers.
3. 
No special grass or sod.
4. 
No fences, dog fences or sprinkler systems.
5. 
Pavement: minimize impact, repair to make usable.
6. 
Sidewalk: repair to make usable.
7. 
Structures: critical facilities repaired (garage floor).
D. 
Will restore for "safe occupancy".
[Ord. No. 00-01 §§1 — 2, 3-14-2000]
A. 
Emergency Procedures — Generally.
1. 
Homeowner calls licensed drain layer.
2. 
Licensed drain layer:
a. 
Verifies repair is an emergency.
b. 
Begins repair work to point that relieves emergency.
c. 
Stops.
3. 
Homeowner application first business day.
4. 
Plumbing inspector verifies emergency.
5. 
City of Northwoods negotiates final repair contract.
6. 
Repair work is completed like a non-emergency.
7. 
In those cases where an emergency repair of a residential sewer lateral is required, the emergency repair services procedure will be followed. Emergency repairs are needed when the leakage of raw sewage threatens public health.
B. 
Steps For Emergency Repair.
1. 
When the homeowner notices leakage of raw sewage outside his/her home, he/she will call a St. Louis County licensed drain layer to repair the sewer lateral.
2. 
The licensed drain layer will apply for the proper St. Louis County permit on the first (1st) business day after he/she determines it is an emergency repair. Also, the homeowner must complete the program application.
3. 
A St. Louis County Plumbing Inspector is sent to the job site to inspect the repair. After it is determined the repair was an emergency; the cost of the repair will be covered under the program.