Neighborhood Divided Over Sewer Project

A section of southeast Oak Creek may get city water and sewer service, but neighbors have sharply different opinions about whether it should go in.

Residents along E. Fitzsimmons Road, between Chicago Road and 3762 E. Fitzsimmons, would receive sanitary sewer, water main and lateral improvements under a proposal the Oak Creek Common Council will take up tonight.

The proposal came after a resident wanting to sell her late mother's house initiated a petition. But some neighbors have come out strongly against it because of the cost they will pay.

The total cost would be roughly $386,000. About $160,000 would come from the Oak Creek Water and Sewer Utility, while property owners would pay the rest of it through special assessments.

That would be a large chunk of cash - in the five figures - for residents along that stretch of Fitzsimmons.

The bill would come out to a maximum of $47 per square foot of frontage road for the water main and $94 for the sewer. According to figures provided by the city, that would mean a bill up to $32,800 for one resident. Another would pay $30,000.

Other amounts range from $8,100 to $20,900. Laterals could cost an additional $3,500 per resident.

The payments could be made in a lump sum or in five- or ten-year increments, but that's not nearly enough to appease residents worried about the impact on their bank accounts.

"I can't afford it," resident Duane Lussier told the Common Council last month. "I don't care if you give me 20 years to pay for it. It's not right."

Fred Vogl said he feels taxes are already too high in Oak Creek and this proposal would only make things worse.

"We can't afford almost $10,000" in special assessments, he said. "Who can?"

Proponents argued that while the cost is high, the value of their homes would go up while making it easier to sell.

Kathy Sharidan started the petition, which was signed by two others, in an effort to sell her mother's house, at 3762 E. Fitzsimmons. Under law, anyone can petition the city for the water and sewer installation process to begin - there is no minimum number of signatures needed.

Sharidan said the home's septic system is condemned and the house cannot be sold, rented or lived in until something is done.

"I felt water and sewer was the way to go," she told the council in May. "I'm not looking to make a big profit on my mother's house. I would just like to be able to sell it so that somebody can live in it."

The Oak Creek Common Council first discussed the issue in May and appeared undecided. Aldermen asked for more time so city officials could look into creating an option for residents to pay over 20 years.

"This is a tough call for me," said Alderman Mike Toman, who represents the area where the improvements would be made.

"I moved to Oak Creek, a big reason being it was country and city combined. I liked the idea of open space, yet I still had city services. I value that highly. Eventually, I know it impacts (residents) immediately with these payments, but all of us are going to be at a point in time when we're going to be selling our homes. This isn't a total loss - you're going to realize extra value from this."