MOUNT VERNON — Assuming the full cost of extending the county wastewater system, and then being assessed thousands of dollars in fees to tap into it, is unfair, said a representative of a developer to the Knox County Commissioners on Thursday morning.

“We didn’t anticipate these fees, especially since we’re installing the lines,” said Dave Dailey, representing S&S Construction in lieu of company president Ryan Snyder, who was delayed by winter weather air travel issues. Dailey was joined by Mark Ramser, owner of the property under development, known as “The Reserves.” The site, on Berry Road, is an enclave of previously undeveloped land surrounded by the Apple Valley development.

The project would situate 50 two-unit condominiums and a small number of separate houses in a development that will be connected to the county water and wastewater system running through Apple Valley, though the development will form its own association separate from Apple Valley.

According to a contract proposed by the county to S&S Construction and Ramser’s company Revival Properties, an impact fee of $1,493.55 per connection, tap fees of $1,500 for water and $1,000 for wastewater plus start-up fees of $20 each for water and sewer would be levied. Dailey said that these rates would cause each two-unit condominium to have an extra $8,067 in costs.

“I can understand the impact fee, because of course we will have an impact on the system,” Dailey said. “I understand that better than the taps.”

According to Knox County Water and Wastewater superintendent Ron Simpson, who was also present for the meeting, the quoted rates come from the costs of the work of tapping into the system and performing the required water quality testing.

Simpson defended the rates.

“I’ve spoken with the electric company,” Simpson said. “We’re not doing anything different from other utilities.”

“Some utilities,” said Ramser, who is also owner of Cumberland Gas. “My gas company doesn’t charge fees like that.”

Commissioner Robert Wise asked if it could be worked out for the developers to do the tapping and testing themselves.

“I don’t know,” said Simpson. “I’d hate to see that. That could leave us holding the whole bag of worms.”

The fees became an issue because county regulations require the developer to assume the costs of installing the lines as well. The rule comes from a 1995 resolution passed by then-commissioners Cedric Coonfare, Robert Durbin and Allen Stockberger.

As a possible compromise, a single tap point was discussed for the condominiums. With one tap, the separate units could not be metered, and the monthly costs would have to be paid by the development association, which Ramser said was a fairly standard practice.

Stockberger asked if the association would resume responsibility in the event of a leak or a water shortage, where individual users couldn’t be charged individually.

“Yes,” said Ramser.

All parties agreed to meet further and continue the discussion in hopes of resolving the issue before the next Regional Planning Commission meeting, Jan. 21, 2010.