Peninsula Community Association

Manila forecasts growth

Apr 19, 2005

If you were one of the people who paid fees for permits to connect to Manila?’s water and sewer system in the last couple months, you were in good company. Some 70 connection fees were paid, according to the district office. This was most likely due to the fact that the fees were facing an increase from $4100. to $17,600 effective on March 18. This was an astonishing increase in connection fees paid. MCSD took in approximately $280,000 worth of fees which was deposited into the 2520 account". (This is a Humboldt County savings account).

According to Michael Hollrigel, (a former Manila resident and MCSD board member) the project engineer for the MCSD Water and Wastewater Connection Fee Analysis, ?“Manila?’s customer base consists of 309 single family residences, 24 multi-family residences, six commercial facilities, and one industrial facility.?” The analysis which was prepared by Oscar Larson and Associates Consulting Engineers, recommended that ?“MCSD apply the connection fee rates for ?…100% loan funded financing for replacement costs and adopt an ordinance that requires periodic and scheduled connection fee and rate analyses to ensure that the MCSD is being fully compensated for the current value of their assets and operation and maintenance costs.?” MCSD requested the study to ?“estimate reasonable water and wastewater connection fees for new development in the MCSD jurisdiction.?”

If the approximately 70 new connection fees are exercised that will increase the number of residences in Manila by nearly 25%. The district contends that it has the ability to double its present capacity. The Voice emailed MCSD General Manager Judy Hollified on April 4 and 12th about the details of the last connection fee increase (before this one) but had received no reply as of April 17th. The Voice has not been able to ascertain how many property owners the fees paid represents, the average number of units applied for by each landholder or the number of connection fees for owner occupied vs. connections which represent development interests. The increase in connection fees would presumably play a considerable role in redevelopment plans.