Cost to fix antiquated sewer line ‘impending doom,’ Kettering man says

KETTERING — The cost to fix one of the oldest sewer lines in the county will be a major drain for Maplecrest Drive homeowners.

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“It’s unjust, it’s persecution, and an extreme hardship on the county residents you are responsible to serve,” Amber Hicks told Montgomery County officials during Tuesday’s commission meeting.

“The impending doom of this is terrible,” Gary Wagoner said.

News Center 7’s Molly Koweek has followed this story since February.

That’s when Jenny Harlow — who has been forced to move out of her house — told her she has had to clean up raw sewage many times.

The sewer line that connects her house to the county’s sewer system is broken, and it’s not a simple fix. Instead of each house having its own line to the main drain, they are all connected.

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Wagoner and Hicks have not had the same issues as Harlow, but in May all Maplecrest Drive property owners were told they would be charged almost $1,300 a year for 20 years to cover the cost of the sewer line upgrade.

Residents said they are worried about the high cost.

“We’d just like some resolution on that that doesn’t involve another mortgage,” Wagoner said.

Montgomery County Administrator Michael Colbert said county leaders are working to figure out funding to bring down the cost to residents.

“I wanted to let you know that we are very much concerned about this issue,” Colbert said.