Voters turn down $40 million sewer project

A $40 million project that would bring low-pressure sewer systems to 680 households in three sections of the city south of Foothill Boulevard was turned down by voters who rejected the formation of an assessment district.

The unofficial results released by City Hall Thursday afternoon showed 313 ballots totaling more than $18.5 million in assessments were cast against the proposed project, while 142 property owners, representing $8.1 million in assessments, were in favor of going forward.

“The voters have spoken and made their choice,” said Mayor Pro Tem Don Voss, who added that the city’s goal all along has been to present the option and give property owners the opportunity to decide whether or not they wanted to form the assessment district and abandon on-site septic systems.

The ballots went out to the affected property owners on Aug. 21 and were due in City Hall by the close of a public hearing Monday night. Proposed assessments ranged from $40,145.39 to $72,923.63, depending upon the location, size of the lot and length of its street-foot frontage. The votes were weighted, with those facing larger assessments given the greater say in the outcome.

In a series of public workshops held prior to the voting deadline, and again at Monday’s public hearing, several residents spoke of their concerns about the high costs of the district. There were also many who expressed skepticism that there was a true need for sewers at this time, and stated their own septic systems were functioning properly.