Valley City homeowners are frustrated with special assessments

The 1.5 million dollar project is set to start this summer after more than a year delay. Many homeowners believe its being done because of damage from the flood of 09. However, city leaders say that only added to the problems.

“We're retired people.”

Marly Cole owns two properties, 50 foot lots. She rents to other people along College Street and 4th Avenue Southwest, an 11 block area in question.

“One of my properties was assessed at $9500; the other $3250.”

Cole isn't sure how she'll pay, possible yearly. She says she can't charge the renters to make up that cost.

“All these assessments are really going to hurt.”

“This has just gotten to be a huge project.”

The plan is to replace the entire street along with the sewer, water, and sanitary sewer systems. Water lines date back to the 1930s. The street's last pavement was in 1979. It should be done every 20 years. The area is not part of an urban road or farm to market system.

“So we're looking at no federal funding, no state funding. It's all locally funded.”

City leaders held a meeting tonight for about 20 homeowners. They call the cost to homeowners very expensive. Some assessments are as high as 30 thousand dollars.

“Some of these homes in the older part of town are probably not worth twice that so if you got homes paid for, it's just like going and re-mortgaging your house.”

A city infrastructure fund will cover one third of the cost. Still it’s no comfort for homeowners who will likely foot the bill.

“What you hope and what will happen are two different things.”

Some city, commercial, and Valley City State properties are also being assessed. City leaders say they'll take into consideration any other ways to pay for the project.

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