Residents express concern about sewer system costs

Residents seemed to have mixed views about a county project to bring sewer lines to the Lono Kona subdivision. But even those in support of the plan at a public hearing Tuesday night in Kailua-Kona worried about how the system would impact their wallets.

Tuesday was the last day to postmark testimony from the property owners who will ultimately pay for the work. It is likely but not yet known for certain if there is enough support for the plan.

Caroline Smith, a 46-year resident of the subdivision, said her cesspool has been working fine and questioned the necessity of the project.

I am retired. How am I going to pay for this? she asked.

The owners of only 16.5 units protested the plan at a March hearing, nowhere close to the half of affected owners needed to put the project off for another six months. Many of the condominiums, duplexes and apartments in the subdivision are hooked up to large-capacity cesspools. Some property owners requested the district be formed because they didnt have room to install a septic system.

The $6.5 million project is funded by a $4 million grant and $2.4 million in loaned money from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The county will bill $9,090 for each single family equivalent unit, payable in $498 increments each year.

The project area contains 145 assessment units in the subdivision mauka of Kuakini Highway and Kailua Bay. The design and bid process is expected to take at least a year.

Residents questioned whether the cost will be the same when the digging is done.

This is a good thing. If we had to put septic systems in there, it would never happen, said Robert Hamilton. But he concluded his comments by asking: Is this what were going to pay? Is this a firm estimate?

The district brings sewer lines to the propertys edge, but owners must also foot the bill for the lines needed on their own property to hook up to the system, plus the cost of closing the cesspools.

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Residents express concern about sewer system costs