Shewmaker came before the council concerning a housing development he is constructing along the Belt Line, which is located just outside of the city limits.
He is requesting permission to hook ten housing lots up to the city sewer system.
The council discussed the issue for a good length of time. Shewmaker said the lots would not be for mobile homes.
Prior to the meeting, Shewmaker said in a written correspondence, that he would be responsible for paying the $150 tap fee per dwelling, all the cost of boring beneath the Belt Line, paying cost to perform a wet tap into the main force and maintaining that main and lift station in perpetuity - all at no cost to the city.
Councilman Hank Barnes said one of his biggest concerns was if the city was to go ahead and approve the hookups, would it be fair to allow him to hook on with the wastewater system and then turn someone else down. He added that allowing random connections could possibly overload the plant over time.
“What concerns me is we've got these people who are already living in the city limits that are not on the sewer, that's my main concern,” said councilman Ronnie Carter. “I know you (Shewmaker) are paying for all this out of your own pocket but I can foresee a problem if you don't sell all these lots.”
Shewmaker suggested that the city could put restrictions on how many houses in a development could connect to the wastewater system. He said he's been doing this type of work since 1973, and said he understands the concerns the council has.
He added he has not cleared any plans with the county or state but that would be his next step.
The sewer committee will meet on the matter at 6 p.m., prior to the next city council meeting on April 4. After their discussion, they will refer their suggestions back to the council and will put it to a vote. Shoemaker will be asked to attend that meeting.
In an unrelated matter, Mayor Ben Hickman was happy to report that the final payment has now been made on the series 1986 sewer refunding bonds for the waste water treatment plant.
The original bond amount was $1, 270, 000. Safety director James Pursifull said Tuesday at the meeting that the bonds were used in making today's current waste water system upgrades.
In addition, the city has been recently re-rated to upgrade the plant to an extra 800,000 gallon capacity, which according to Hickman, will save the city an additional expense of one million dollars.
In other council action, the board voted to continue the services agreement for the wastewater system with R&R Consultants. The council also approved to submit a grant application to PRIDE for funding of sewer extensions on North 10th street.
The council also voted to give Middlesboro High School a $500 dollar donation for their Project Graduation program.
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