HB 1807 -- Sewer Districts

Sponsor:  Hoppe

This bill makes several changes to laws regarding sewer
districts.

COMMON SEWER DISTRICTS

The bill changes the requirements for the establishment of a
common sewer district.  The bill requires a petition to be filed
with the circuit court of the county where the proposed district
is situated.  The petition must contain the following
information:  (1)  description of the proposed district; (2)
estimated number of customers; (3)  necessity for the formation
of the district; (4)  probable cost of the improvements; and (5)
approximate assessed valuation of taxable property within the
district.  The petition must be signed by 50% of the voters
within the proposed district.  The petitioners must also pay a
$50 fee to cover the cost of the circuit court proceedings
regarding the petition.

The circuit court must give proper notice and hold public
meetings regarding the formation of the district.  Exceptions to
the proposed district may be made by any voter of the district.
If the court finds that it would be in the best interest of the
public, the district will become incorporated.  Before final
incorporation, the proposed district must be approved by the
voters.

The bill also increases from $500 to $25,000 the amount of a
purchase or contract for which the district must obtain a bid.

The procedure for the collection of delinquent fees is revised to
allow the collection of delinquent fees from persons responsible
for the payment of the delinquent fees as well as persons owning
the property.

Under current law, sewer service suppliers are permitted to
contract with public water suppliers to cut off water service
when sewer bills are not paid.  The bill requires any supplier of
water to disconnect a customer's water service for nonpayment of
a sewer bill, subject to certain conditions.

The bill also provides territorial protection for a common sewer
district and establishes procedures for when cities annex an area
within an established boundary of a common sewer district.
Procedures are established for territorial disputes between a
common sewer district and cities.

SANITARY SEWER IMPROVEMENT SUBDISTRICTS

The bill authorizes the creation of sanitary sewer improvement
subdistricts.  Procedures are established for a sewer district to
create a subdistrict.  The sewer district is authorized to make
improvements within the subdistrict to be paid for by the
issuance of general or special revenue bonds and assessments on
the property benefitted by the improvements.  A separate fund
must be created by the sewer district for each improvement
project in a subdistrict.

Before any assessments or improvements are made, a public hearing
must be held.  Any appeal of a final assessment must be made
within 90 days of the mailing of notice of assessment to the
property owner.

The assessment is considered to be a lien on the property until
paid in full.  The bill establishes procedures for the
enforcement of the lien if it becomes delinquent.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:02 am