Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Forest Trails to Get Final Sewer Connection

Matt Vaughan from the City of Tulsa presented plans for new sewer lines to homeowners in Forest Trails. The meeting was held February 11th at St. James church.

Download plat with sewer lines at foresttrails.us

Forest Trails is slated to receive its long-awaited connection to the city sewer system in 2009. The 1.2 Million dollar project to complete the sewer construction for the Forest Trails neighborhood is currently collecting easement approval. Neighbors petitioned to bring sewer to the remaining homes in the area. A group of homes in the Forest Trails, mostly homes in the center of the platted area, were not connected during the first two phases of sewer installation and remained unsewered since homes were constructed.

No easements will be required for the neighboring subdivision of Sheridan Park but all Forest Trails homeowners must approve easements for construction to begin. While options are available if easements are not granted, the City cannot take an easement for this project by eminent domain.

Matt Vaughn, with the City of Tulsa, said Manholes will be required at each bend in the sewer pipe. The City will attempt to place the connection “T’s” in locations which is the least obtrusive to neighbors.

Connection requirements
• Owners are required to connect to the sewer within 90 days. If a homeowner does not connect within 90 days, the homeowner will begin to receive a sewer bill. If, after 120 days, a homeowner does not connect, a notice will be filed at the City, which will be located with any future title searches for a property, affecting any future sale on the property.
• The average cost to connect is $25 per foot to the sewer tap.
• Connection notices will include an option to pay the cost of connection over a 36-month term to assist homeowners with the cost of connecting.
• Old septic tanks must be abandoned. Plumbers will need to remove the top of the tank and fill the tank.
• Homeowners will be required to hire a plumber to connect to the sewage tap provided by the City.

Construction is expected to begin in October, 2008 and completion expected in approximately August, 2009.

Homeowners concerned about access to their homes during construction, were assured by Mr. Vaughan that homeowners would be provided the direct contact number to the contractor. Vaughan humorously explained the contractor would not be interested in getting 50 phone calls from neighbors at the end of the day because they could not access their property. There will be both contractual requirements as well as motivation for the contractor to keep access for homeowners by not digging more than can be filled in one day’s work.

Questions from the meeting were answered as follows:
• Contractors will restore fences, sprinkler systems, driveways and sod.
• Contractors will NOT restore Trees and special landscaping.
• The contractor is warranted for a period of one year. In the event a tree died due to nearby construction and damage to roots within that year, the tree would be removed by the contractor.
• The ugly graveled area along Sheridan will finally be sodded upon the completion of the Phase II project.
• Other area neighborhoods undergoing sewer installation presently include Sheridan Park and Fieldstone.

Other contacts for this project include:
Nataliya Scott, Project Manager for the City of Tulsa
Larry Baker, Breisch and Associates

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