Alabaster considering rise in residential, commercial sewer tap fees

Published 12:11 pm Wednesday, March 15, 2017

By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

ALABASTER – Alabaster leaders said they are looking to bring the city’s residential and commercial sewer tap fees more in line with neighboring municipalities, and are set to hold a public hearing on raising the tap fees during a late March meeting.

During their March 13 meeting, City Council members set a public hearing for March 27 on increasing the city’s sewer tap fees. The public hearing will be during the council’s regular meeting, which will begin at 7 p.m. at Alabaster City Hall at 1953 Municipal Way.

Council members discussed the matter during a recent work session, during which Alabaster Director of Environmental Services Glen McCord presented information comparing the city’s current sewer tap fees with surrounding cities.

Currently, Alabaster charges a flat $3,000 sewer tap fee whenever a residential or commercial building taps on to the city’s sewer system. The one-time fee is only charged when customers connect to the city’s sewer system for the first time, and primarily affects new residential and commercial developments.

During the work session, McCord said the city’s residential tap fee is comparable to surrounding municipalities, but said the commercial tap fee is significantly lower.

As proposed, Alabaster leaders are considering raising the residential tap fee to a $3,500 flat rate, and raising the commercial tap fee to $3,500 for the first 12 fixtures. Tap fees for additional commercial fixtures would be $250 apiece.

Fixtures include items such as sinks, toilets, outside water faucets and more.

Alabaster Mayor Marty Handlon said raising the tap fees would help the city to more effectively maintain and improve its sewer infrastructure in the future.

“We are looking to come more in line with our other sister cities around here so we will be able to address our sewer needs moving forward,” Handlon said.