Community

It was standing-room-only at Wednesday's Chapel Road area sewer/stormdrain presentation by City of Sedona staff at the Sedona Methodist Church.

Chapel sewer project galvanizes community

By Tommy Acosta | Sedona.biz

Sedona, AZ - July 18, 2008 - It was standing-room-only Wednesday, July 16, at the Sedona Methodist Church, where more than 120-concerned community residents assembled to hear City of Sedona staff and representatives from Tiffany Construction Inc. lay out plans for the installation of a sewer and storm-drain system in the Chapel area.

Pending approval of a construction contract with Tiffany Construction Inc. at the 4:30 p.m. regularly-scheduled City Council meeting of July 22, digging will begin for the $9.9 million, two-year project, on August 4. The project is scheduled for completion August 2010.

A contingency amount of $200,000 has also been set aside for the project, bringing the possible expenditure to $10.1 million.

Money for the project was raised through a revenue-bond election approved last November by the Sedona City Council. Plans for the project began July 2004 with the basic design completed in 2006.

Once the project is completed, home owners in the Chapel Road area will receive a notice from the city mandating they hook up to the sewer system. The cost for homeowners will range between seven and $10,000, or more, depending on the amount of work necessary to hook them up to the sewer system.

Construction starts at Vista Bonita Drive near HWY 179 with the installation of storm-drainage collection system and will proceed accordingly through the Chapel area community. The storm-drain phase of the project will be completed before the sewer system is installed.

Assistant Sedona City Engineer Cullen Hollister and Tiffany Construction Inc. Vice-President Herb Tiffany fielded numerous questions at the emotionally-charged meeting, where one homeowner protesting the plan and the additional costs to him had to be removed from the meeting and gently-calmed down by police before being let back in.

“How much is it going to cost homeowners to hook up to the system?” asked resident Jim Shaffer. “I don’t need it.”

Mr. Hollister replied he had “been advised” by the city attorney not to answer the question.

“I can’t give a specific amount,” Mr. Hollister said. “It depends on how deep we have to dig or if we hit rock. I don’t know. I can’t say. It could range anywhere between $1,500 and $5,000 depending.”

Mr. Hollister said the city’s scheduled hook-up/impact fee, aside from the fee to connect to the system, would probably be $5,335.

Two SPD squad cars showed up to keep the peace at the Chapel sewer/drainage presentation.

Homeowner Dorrie Riley pleaded with Mr. Hollister if it was possible for her to be exempt from having to hook up to the system.

“My husband just died and I simply don’t have the money,” she said. “My septic tank works just fine and I’ve never had a problem with flooding. I don’t want it. Is there anything I can so I don’t have to hook up to the system?”

Mr. Hollister indicated exemptions were unlikely.

“You have to connect,” he said. “You could write a letter and the city will consider it.”

He explained low-interest loans through the city will be made available to those who can show inability to obtain a loan through normal means and be able to demonstrate hardship.

Resident Holly Medley said she welcomed the storm drain and sewer system.

“It will increase my property value,” she said.

Mr. Tiffany said his company will do everything in its power to lessen the impact construction will have on homeowners and their property. Restoration of landscaping is also part of the plan.

“If we knock down a mailbox you can be sure we will put it back up,” he said. “We are going to make every effort to return the property to the way it was before we come through.”

Mr. Tiffany said the first phase will be trenching, with the trenches being filled in with loose dirt right after they are dug. A crew will follow to dig up the loose dirt, lay down the pipe and the lateral connection to the homes. The trenches will be refilled. The street will be torn up, milled and then repaved.

Chart shows layout for stormdrains and sewers in the Chapel Area.

“We are going to protect you and the city will make sure Tiffany Construction restores properties to their original state,” Mr. Hollister said. “Appointments will be made between Tiffany and property owners, before construction affecting properties begins.”

According to the plan presented at the July 16 community meeting, every effort will be made by the city and the construction company to notify and work with homeowners.

Chapel area resident protests the city's plan shortly before being escorted out of the meeting by Sedona police.

Work hours are scheduled Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-to 6 p.m.; and Fridays 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

On weekends there will be no work scheduled -- save dust control and traffic-control maintenance.

Access for deliveries, mail deliveries, emergencies, garbage service, special events and open houses, parties, etc. will be maintained. Full access to homes will be allowed during evening hours.

Once the project is complete, the city must obtain approval from the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality before sending mandatory hook-up letters to homeowners

Chapel area homeowner Cole Greenberg does not believe the project will see completion.

“I don’t believe the project can be done for the amount of money allocated,” he said.

For additional information on the project, go to http://www.sedonaaz.gov/FTP/City Council/2008 07 22/Meeting Materials/07-01-Chapel_01,_Council_Comm.pdf.

Extension and Storm Drainage Project data and charts are available in the City Clerk’s Office for review.