The Urbana City Council approved an increase to the Sewer Reimbursement Program at their meeting on Monday. Under these changes, residents with damaged sewers could receive financial assistance from the city of 75 percent or up to $4,500 of costs that involve tearing up streets and sidewalks.  

Alderman Diane Marlin, Ward 7,said the ordinance that was passed could provide additional assistance to residents who may need it this year. She said the results from city public works may not be able to be implemented until next year.

Due to low numbers of participants in the reimbursement program, Marlin said the city has enough money left over from the sewer tax to pay for the increase in reimbursement.  

“I think tax payers should have access to their tax dollars this year if they need it,” she said.

A few weeks ago, Rex Bradfield, Republican candidate for Urbana mayor and hired engineer by the people of Ellis Subdivision, gave an alternative proposal to pay for damage to sewer laterals.  

His proposal stated that the city should pay for the city’s property and the resident’s should pay for their property, while the approved program only involves compensation for torn up roads and sidewalks.

Bill Gray, director of public works, said city staff will continue researching Bradfield’s proposal and conducting research for cost analysis for alternatives to the sewer reimbursement program, as it could only be a temporary solution. Gray said staff would be ready to discuss their research on April 8.    

Bradfield said he believes the ideas that city public works comes up with will be something worth consideration. However, he is still backing his proposal. 

“In the new ordinance the city is only paying up to $4,500,” he said. “Sometimes that isn’t 75 percent when you start talking about percentages, that’s more around 41 percent.”  

Evelyn Underwood spoke on behalf of the subdivision, saying that given the low number of residents who have used the old program set by the 2007 ordinance, Ellis subdivision did not support the change to the program and will wait for a report from city public works. 

“We do not see the urgency of repealing the ordinance to replace it,” she said.  

During the meeting, council members also passed $159,279.89 in federal grant funding for low-income housing to the Champaign County Neighborhood Alliance for Habitat. 

Jen Gonzalez, HOME director, said the mix of private and public organizations led by Habitat for Humanity has agreed to develop four units in a community target area for assisted living. 

Council members also approved the sale of 1409 and 1411 W. Beech St. to the Neighborhood Alliance for redevelopment.

Corinne can be reached at [email protected].