Buck Run residents seek sewer solutions

Buck Run Phase III homeowners left off the City of Sisters sewer system may get their main lines and laterals installed on their own.

The Sisters City Council, at a Thursday, December 12, workshop, provided an engineer's estimate of $150,803.78 to do the work, and offered to pay 1/3 of the cost (assuming property owners and developer Mylon Buck would each pay 1/3).

Some homeowners said they believe they can get the work done to city standards at a much lower price. That may be true, since the city must pay "prevailing wage," which can drive public contract prices up to two times higher than private contracts.

The city council agreed that the 13 homeowners should pursue a private solution and offered to pay 1/3 of that price, should the residents come up with an agreement on a bid.

Buck Run Phase III was not included in the city's original sewer system plan, but homeowners are required to hook up to the system. The homeowners have argued that they were unaware that they were not on the system when they purchased their lots.