Sewer inspection ordinance causes a stink
MAUMEE – Seeking to bring clarity to a new controversial sewer inspection ordinance in Maumee, Mayor James MacDonald held a special meeting on July 16 at the Maumee City Administration building.
The meeting, attended by more than 140 concerned residents, was a follow-up to the July 15 meeting, when hundreds of residents showed up to voice their opinion on the ordinance that was passed during an emergency city council meeting on June 17. The ordinance requires property owners to pay for repairs to their sewer lines if they fail inspection.
At the start of the meeting, MacDonald thanked everyone for showing up and told the standing-room only crowd that he had only been mayor for six months and inherited this problem. He then invited Maumee City administrator Patrick Burtch to explain the history of the situation.
Burtch said the problem with the city’s sewer and storm systems dates back a few decades. He also explained that the city reported themselves to the EPA in 2020, which triggered the criminal investigation. The sewer system was pumping water into the Maumee River, which is a 20-year federal felony.
For some residents, the cost of repairs could cost tens of thousands to fix. Both Burtch and MacDonald explained that the city has applied for a few grants to the EPA in hopes of being able to provide financial relief to residents of Maumee. All of them have been denied.
Along with home owners, the city must also pay to fix sewage systems on public property. Maumee will spend $60 million to reline every sewer in the city in the next 12 years.
MacDonald then explained the next steps for applying for grants to help with the financial burden. He said his administration is continuing to look at grant applications. In fact, in a meeting he had with the city administrator on the same day as the July 16 meeting, he asked if there were other ways, other than grants or loans, that the city could offer financial assistance, and could their sewer account handle it.
“And that is something we are waiting to hear from our finance director. We’re still open; we haven’t shut that door and I’m encouraged we’ll come up with something.”
Maumee Mayor James MacDonald
After explaining the history of the problem, the mayor and Burtch offered clarity on the sewer ordinance. They said the only residents who must have their homes inspected are those who are trying to sell their homes. This only affects about 50 residents in the city.
For homeowners who are not planning on moving, the inspection is voluntary only. Once a resident fails an inspection, however, they have 90 days to correct it. Currently, it is on the property owner to repair their sewage system.
The hope for MacDonald is that fixing their properties before their reevaluation in August is enough to appease the EPA. The city will submit a plan to the EPA at the end of the month.
MacDonald also addressed questions posted on an online community page. The question that drew the most attention was why the city can’t raise the income tax from 1.5 percent to 2 percent so that no one person must pay for the repairs themselves. The mayor explained that would not be nearly enough to cover the cost.
When asked how much the tax increase would need to be, he said, “I believe that the city administration said that we can’t use tax money to fix private properties, so even if we were to raise the taxes your asking public money to fix a private property, and that’s not feasible.”
After the meeting, Dan Hengle, 26-year resident of Maumee, said he found out about the new ordinance a week ago. He said it provides some comfort knowing that this only applies to sellers.
When asked if only sellers have to follow the ordinance, he replied, “If that’s the truth, yes, because we’re not selling our house anytime soon. The way I’ve read the ordinance online, I don’t see that being the truth for very long.”
Hengle does not, however, put all the blame on the mayor, and said he understands that he is stuck in the middle of this.
