LID causing concern, city says don’t fret

By Clare Jensen

Fife Free Press
cjensen@tacomaweekly.com
Published on: October 09, 2008

Concern over the recent benefit appraisals for constituents of Edgewood’s proposed sewer local improvement district (LID) prompted Edgewood City Council to formally say, “don’t worry about it.”

The council addressed these concerns at a  meeting Oct. 7, making a formal motion to clarify that the appraisals are not final.

The final appraisals will not be done until after the project is completed in the fall of 2010, and even then property owners will have the option to appeal the final numbers.

In the LID process, a benefit appraisal determines how much each proponent will pay for the improvements, based upon a determination of how much their property will benefit from such improvements.

There are about 160 property owners that would be included in phase one of the sewer project.

A preliminary appraisal is required before the city can hold a formation hearing, which is scheduled for Oct. 14.

“(The preliminary appraisal) is not a final assessment by any means,” said City Manager Kim Wilde.  The city council has the option to reevaluate appraisals if they so choose, and can either hire a new appraiser altogether, or have a different appraiser check the results.

“I’m thankful that we as a council have the opportunity to revisit (these numbers),” said Councilmember Enid Duncan. “In my observation, I could find no rhyme or reason as to how (the appraisals) were done.”

The final numbers will be based on the actual cost of the project and interest rates at the time of completion.

An LID formation hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at Edgemont Junior High. The meeting is an opportunity for the public to testify on whether or not they believe the proposed sewer project is valid, what properties should or should not be included in the LID, and whether or not they believe forming an LID is an appropriate way to finance the project.

Wilde said appraisal concerns should not be addressed at this hearing.

In response to some residents’ concerns about moving forward on the costly project in the face of a potential economic crisis, Wilde stressed that time is of the essence.

“We have to get this done before the state rebuilds Meridian,” he said. “We have a very tight window…in order to get the work done that needs to be done.”

After the formation hearing, and the LID is approved by council, proponents will have 30 days to protest the LID. Sixty percent or more of the proponents need to be against the LID for a valid protest.

Wilde said the city is expecting the LID to form, and to move forward with the project on schedule, with construction beginning in spring of 2009.

 LID FORMATION HEARING

The public will have the opportunity to testify on the following issues at the sewer LID formation hearing:

-    Whether or not the proposed sewer installation project is a good idea

-    What properties should, or should not, be included in the LID

-    Whether or not an LID is a good option for financing the project

The city requests that issues with preliminary appraisals not be discussed at this hearing. After the formation of the LID, proponents will have 30 days to gather a majority protest of the formation. The public hearing 7 p.m., Oct. 14 at Edgewood Junior High, 2300 110th Ave. E. Questions? Call City Hall at (253) 952-3299.

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