The City of Sisters is taking another close look at building a sewer system.

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The $12,496,450 project would serve residences and businesses, and retire hundreds of aging and in some cases, failing, septic tanks and drainfields.

At an October 14 city council workshop, Dick Nored of HGE Engineers brought some numbers for review.

Under Nored's scenario, $5 million of the $12.5 million project would come from rural and community development grants, and a federal grant through the forest service.

Approximately $6.4 million would be provided from a rural development loan, repaid through a monthly fee of $35 per home or business connection, measured as "equivalent dwelling units," or "EDU."

In addition, each sewer service would directly pay $1,000 for a hookup. Sisters Mayor Steve Wilson points out that this is only 60 percent of the total cost of each hook-up, estimated to be about $1,850 per home or EDU.

Wilson has proposed a 2 percent city sales tax to offset some that cost for residents.

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"Knowing the situation of the residents, where more than 50 percent of the people are at or below average income, we can't ask them to pick up more of the cost (than $1,000)," Wilson said.

Wilson acknowledged that "retailers will grumble at the collection" of the 2 percent sales tax, but he didn't feel those who came to Sisters to shop "would begrudge two cents per dollar for a sewer for the community."

He said it was appropriate "to tap tourism to foot the bill," for a sewer.

The sales tax would offset approximately $13.40 per month of the $35 cost of each sewer connection. To meet grant and loan funding rules, Wilson said, this $13.40 would probably be used to reduce water/garbage bills.

Wilson said the proposal would go to a ballot in March. He hopes citizens say yes, because the mayor feels it is only a matter of time before the Environmental Protection Agency or Department of Environmental Quality mandates a sewer.

And it will just get more expensive for local property owners, he believes.

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"Twenty years ago (when Sisters looked at building a sewer) we had 70 percent that would come in the form of grants. Now that is down to 30 percent. (Engineer) Dick Nored said that in five or 10 years, even that will evaporate and it will be pay-as-you-go," Wilson said.

Wilson noted that according to county sanitarian John Mason, Sisters currently has three drainfields that fail each month.

The effluent would be pumped south of town to a parcel of Forest Service land. The city would acquire a special use permit to build a 13-acre holding pond that would be 15 feet deep when full.

Approximately 120 acres would be needed for land irrigation to disperse the treated effluent. While a golf course has been suggested as one way to use the effluent, Mayor Wilson said these were separate issues and he did not want to confuse the two.

As to whether having a sewer system would encourage growth, Wilson said it would take three years to build a sewer system, and in three years, the city should be able to work on zoning and planning rules that would protect the city.

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At the same time, he said, "We cannot help the people who live here without making it easier for others to come in."