PRIEST RIVER — Few exceptions are allowed when it comes to the requirement of residents within city limits to hook up to the city's sewer system.

"They have to hook up to the city sewer system if they are within 300 feet (of the public sewer), unless there are extenuating circumstances," said Mayor Jim Martin.

One property owner was granted the exception by City Council after their sewer line, running under Highway 2, collapsed. The only way to fix the line, Martin said, would be to tear up the highway.

"We've looked at every angle of this thing," he said, adding it would cost around $75,000 to fix the line.

To bypass the problem of tearing up a state highway, the property owner requested approval for an on-site septic system. Located in the 6000 block of Highway 2, the sewer line began having problems last fall, Martin said.

Upon approval of the request, Martin said city officials will be required to send a letter to Panhandle Health District acknowledging they are willing to waive the requirement for the property owner to hook up to the sewer system due to circumstances. The property owner will then need to obtain permission from Panhandle Health to install the on-site septic system.

Council members unanimously approved the request meeting to waive the requirement.

The request was not the only sewer discussion during the April 2 City Council meeting, as a public hearing was held to update council and the public on the city's wastewater system improvement project. Council also approved two change orders regarding the wastewater project, bringing the total amount of change orders since the project began to about $38,000, Martin said.

The mayor and council members agreed $38,000 in change orders over the course of the project, which thus far had cost $2.3 million, is "not bad." The total project cost is estimated at $3.9 million.

The final topic of the night garnered an appearance by Bonner County Commissioner Jeff Connolly in a request for a permanent tree removal at Priest River Municipal Airport. The request included a $50 fee waiver.

"This is, I think, going to be a real good thing for the city in the end because it's going to remove trees that the city could be possibly responsible for removing that are in your right of way," Connolly said.

Martin asked if rather than a permanent permit, which would allow the county to remove trees in the designated area at any time in the future as well, if it could be renewed on a yearly basis. Connolly said, as far as he knew, the FAA was looking for something more permanent.

Because the area of permanent tree removal was narrowly defined in the permit, council member approved the permit and fee waiver requests.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.