There is hope, but not much else for the residents of Bellman's Addition who want clean water.

The pricetag for both sanitary sewer and water improvements is too steep, officials say.

The commissioners will consider how the county could relieve some of the residential subdivision property owners' worries about clean water with a new community well. That will take place in two weeks.

Currently, the only sure thing is the county will intervene to help correct sanitary sewer problems.

The county commissioners unanimously agreed Tuesday to proceed with plans to replace individual sanitary sewer treatment systems in Bellman's Addition.

The improvements will include a gravity sanitary sewer to serve the area, a lift station and force main, which would outlet to the existing city gravity sewer located on 10th Drive SE.

There will also be sanitary sewer services lines and surface restoration when the below-ground work is done in the residential subdivision. However, there will be no new street construction.

The pricetag for the work is $380,000, plus $550 per service line.

Estimated cost per parcel in the subdivision for the sanitary sewer work: $17,070.

Dinsmoor Acres residential subdivision property owners faced a similar situation and are still waiting for the county to determine who much their assessments will be for the improvements. Their special assessments are expected to range from $10,000 to $25,000 for the $500,000-plus project in a larger residential subdivision.

Property owners along 10th Drive SE, which essentially connects the residential subdivision along U.S. Highway 218 south to the Austin city limits, must solve their own sanitary sewer and water concerns with the city of Austin.

The 10th Drive SE properties are not included in the county's plans to assist Bellman's Addition's 23 parcels.

The county will pay for the work up-front and the property owners will be assessed individual costs.

Had the county commissioners authorized water improvements to the Bellman's Addition properties, it would have cost an additional $11,669 each.

That would have driven total sanitary sewer and water improvement costs to the $28,000 mark and that -- a hefty special assessment -- was the deciding factor in Tuesday's decision to authorize sanitary sewer improvements only.

The hearing was a continuation of an exchange between property owners and county commissioners held two weeks ago.

The city of Austin and Austin Utilities positions remained unchanged.

Jon Erichson, the city's director of public works, told the commissioners, "The city will support the county for the sanitary sewer extension." However, that support is just that and nothing more. The city will not allow any other properties along 10th Drive SE to connect to its sanitary sewer extension unless the whole area connects and is fully developed and annexed into Austin at the city's specification.

Also, under the terms of the proposed agreement between the city and the county, the affected Bellman's Addition property owners will own the sewer, lift station and force main and "be responsible for the cost of operation and maintenance" in addition to having to pay city sewer service charges.

Bellman's Addition, as well as the area along the west side of 10th Drive SE, are located in David Hillier's 3rd commissioner district.

Hillier made the motion to authorize Michal Hanson, Mower County highway department engineer, to proceed with the bid process for the sanitary sewer improvements. Ray Tucker, 2nd District, seconded it.

"There are significant cost differences in the assessments between the sanitary sewer and the sewer and water together," Tucker said. "I realize this doesn't solve the water and well issues."

All five commissioners voted "Aye."

Hanson predicted the work could be done by the fall. Already, survey work for the sanitary sewer improvements is complete.

A large group of Bellman's Addition and 10th Drive SE property owners attended the hearing's continuation.

While a community well serves 15 property owners in Bellman's Addition, eight others have their own private wells.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has determined the septic systems and wells do not meet current standards. and must be upgraded or replaced.

Now, Bellman's Addition will all have good sanitary sewer systems, when the work is completed, but their water woes will remain.

"Government works slow, but it does work," said Lang, the first commissioner to hint at hope for the property owners. "These sanitary sewer improvements will put equity into your homes."

One unidentified and obviously irate property owner said the Bellman's Addition residents are using bottled water, because of contamination concerns.

The commissioners refused to budget from their sanitary sewer improvements only stance. "It's a money issue," Lang said. "Either $17,000 or $28,000."

The back-and-forth exchange continued between Bellman's Addition property owners, who want clean water, and the county commissioners until Hillier said, "We could take a look at the water issue in the next couple of weeks."

It seemed to appease the property owners in the audience and Hillier made the motion to continue the hearing's discussion of water services only until 11:30 a.m. May 27.

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com