Residents of Takhini North are asking the city for a written guarantee stating the area's sewage system will last another 50 years after a neighbourhood meeting last week.

It was during that session that residents were told the city will only be replacing the main and some pipes on the system rather than doing the complete overhaul originally proposed.

The meeting was held to go over the proposed local improvement charges owners will be asked to pay for the work on the water and sewer lines in front of their properties.

While those charges have been proposed, there's still the unknown cost for the work that will have to be done within the individual properties.

"We're voting on yet-to-be-determined costs," resident Patricia Cunning said in an interview Monday.

At the meeting, city engineering manager Wayne Tuck told residents the city is still planning to do the complete overhaul on the water system with servicing to each unit including each side of the duplexes, while the sewer will continue to operate on a system that services both sides of a duplex.

The main will be made longer to connect to the new homes that are set to be built in the neighbourhood.

"I'm stunned," Cunning said, pointing out that for more than a year, residents have been told by city staff the sewer system would have to be replaced.

She also pointed to a report done in 1989 stating an inspection in 1981 that spoke to a variety of problems at that time.

Among those issues were roots growing into joints and pipes that were broken and cracked, sheared and dropped, crushed, had holes, and ponding. The report also noted there was surging in the pipes as well as infiltration.

At last week's meeting though, Cunning said Tuck told residents that because of the costs, the city would only be replacing the main which can be guaranteed for 50 years.

"They haven't looked at it at all," she argued.

Along with seeking the guarantee in writing, residents also asked Tuck that a full review of the sewage in the neighbourhood be done.

The water service is currently connected on a system which runs through all the units. That means where there is a problem with one unit, it affects all the homes on that side of the street.

While the aging water system needs to be replaced so that it runs to individual homes and moves to the high-pressure system the rest of the city is on, rather than the low-pressure system Takhini North is on, the sewer system can continue to operate on its current system to each duplex, Tuck said Tuesday.

The same type of system servicing both sides of a duplex is used in other neighbourhoods, he said.

"This is exactly what we've done in Takhini West (and) South," Tuck noted.

That said, the sewer mains and pipes leading to the properties will be replaced. The city has agreed, where there are concerns with individual sewer systems on private properties, to investigate the individual systems and see if they do need to be fixed, he pointed out.

As with the water system, property owners would be responsible for paying for the work on their land.

The letter from residents, which will likely be sent to the city this week, also requests the municipality be responsible for the entire project rather than requiring each individual homeowner to get the plumbing and electrical work done in their own house to tie in to the city's system.

The project is just too complicated to go that route, Cunning argued.

"We recognize that," Tuck said of the concern, noting the city is looking at options to get that work done as well.

That could mean finding a contractor who would do the work to each individual unit, Tuck said.

"It's part of the discussions," he said, pointing out the community association could also look at hiring someone for the unit work.

Along with homeowners paying the local improvement charge for the work that will be done by the city, they will also be required to pay for the work on their individual properties.

Just what that cost will be depends on the homes. Basements that are still bare concrete will likely be cheaper to do the work in than those that are finished where contractors will have to get behind drywall, Tuck said.

He acknowledged it is a cost that is still unknown.

The engineering manager pointed out residents are free to contact a local plumber or electrician to get a quote for the work.

The houses also have to be brought on to the system sequentially. That could create issues if one resident is unable to pay for the work to their own homes or to find a plumber or electrician in time should the city leave it up to individuals to get the work done, Cunning said.

"There's so much we don't know," she said. Homeowners do know how much the local improvements charge will be, but they've been left wondering what the cost of the work inside of the house will be.

With the exception of the Normandy Road condos, at $1,559 for each unit, the local improvement charges range from just over $8,000 to more than $22,000 depending on the property. Under the city's proposal, the payments would be made over 15 years with an interest rate of 8.25 per cent.

The city work is estimated to cost $9.6 million, with residents paying a total of more than $1.1 million and the city paying just under $8.5 million.

With funding now in place from the federal Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund along with the city, Tuck said, the city is looking forward to getting the work done. It hopes the community will agree to the local improvement charge, recognizing the expense will be for the long-term gain of the community.

But as Cunning noted, without knowing the full cost of the work there will likely be some residents who won't vote in favour of the charge. If one or more residents vote against it, the matter goes to public hearing and through a council process for approval.

A list of estimated time lines proposes bringing the local improvement charge forward to council at its Nov. 3 standing committee meeting with first reading at the following regular meeting on Nov. 10.

Voting ballots would then be sent to residents in December. If a public hearing is needed, it would be held on Jan. 12 with a report coming forward on the hearing at the Jan. 19 council meeting and second and third reading coming forward on Jan. 26.

Meanwhile the preliminary design of the work, which was awarded to UMA Engineering (since bought out by AECOM), is expected to be finished by Dec. 17, with a detailed design proposed to be done by February and the contracts for the utilities and surface work awarded in May. The work on the existing homes would be finished next October.

A meeting would be held with residents prior to physical work beginning to deal with concerns and stress the safety precautions residents should take, Tuck said.

Meanwhile, Cunning declined comment on the court cases she's involved with over the issue except to say she wants to move forward and is proceeding with the legal battle over who is obligated to pay for the work.

Earlier this month, territorial court Judge John Faulkner ordered Cunning to choose between proceeding with a Yukon Supreme Court or small claims lawsuit she's filed against the city.

In the cases, Cunning argues that when the city permitted the subdivision and sale of the Takhini North properties, it failed to protect potential buyers' interests.

Unfair advantage was given to the numbered company selling the sites by allowing it to move the financial responsibility for repairing or replacing the water system to the new owners.