Colonia on agenda for special meeting

  The Yuma County Board of Supervisors will hold a special session at 6 p.m. today (Wednesday) to allow property voters to voice opinions on potential construction of a sanitary sewer system in the Avenue B & C Colonia Improvement District 07-09.

  The session will be held inside the Aldrich Auditorium at the Yuma County Development Services Building, 2351 W. 26th St.

  The area to be discussed covers 361 acres and includes approximately 782 properties. According to a news release, the colonia is bound by Avenue B on the east and Avenue C on the west and 1st Street on the north and 8th Street on the south.

  In 2003, a feasibility analysis and cost estimate for the engineering design of a sewage system for the colonia was prepared for review by the Border Environment Cooperation Commission. The feasibility analysis investigated several alternatives for improving the conditions in the colonia, concluding that the most effective alternative would be to connect a new collection system to the city of Yuma’s existing treatment facility.

  In 2006, the property owners of the Avenue B & C Colonia formed an improvement district, which, under the direction of the county’s board of supervisors, would assume debt to meet a portion of the project to provide wastewater services to all properties within the district.

  Due to the inaccuracy of the cost estimate within the feasibility study prepared in 2003, the Border Environment Cooperation Commission contracted with Huitt-Zollars Inc. engineering firm in 2008 to conduct a more thorough analysis of the proposed improvement. A draft of the design concept report is available to the public for review.

  Many alternatives were examined during the preparation of the report. Yuma County staff reported working closely with the city of Yuma, the consultant, and federal and state agencies to ensure a thorough engineering analysis of the needed improvements and estimated cost for the project.

  The alternatives were evaluated based on capital cost, operations and maintenance cost, ease of operation, maintenance, collection efficiency, and other factors. The final determination of the most cost effective and efficient alternative for this area is a single lift station with a gravity flow system connected to the city of Yuma’s main trunk line on Avenue C.

  Based on available data, Huitt-Zollars has determined the estimated cost for the total project is approximately $16 million. The actual cost for the project and the cost to the individual property owners are still unknown until the final design has been completed and bid-out for construction.

  Thus far, all the studies have been done at no cost to the property owners.

  The next phase of the project is the final design phase. Although there are some grant funds for this phase of work, there will be a cost to property owners in the district. After construction, each property will have the financial responsibility for an assessment two times a year for the cost of constructing the project and the monthly service fees to the city of Yuma.