The Cottage Grove Utility Commission heard on Nov. 12 that staff will begin televising sanitary sewers that sit in private easements as part of an effort to inspect the village’s pipe network.

The director explained that while most sanitary sewers are located within streets, some are in easements on private property, in wetlands, parks and commercial backyards. “As part of our overall sanitary sewer cleaning televising project that we're doing, with the intent of having the entire village televised before 2028,” the director said. He said a third-party contractor will access easements to perform televising and staff will send letters to affected homeowners and adjacent businesses to explain the work and timing.

Chair thanked staff for planning outreach rather than surprising residents. The director added that staff will ensure manholes are accessible and that vegetation is cleared so equipment can operate safely.

Why it matters: Televising identifies pipe condition and concrete sections that may require maintenance or replacement; notifying property owners helps reduce conflicts when crews need to access easements.

What’s next: Staff will mail notices to property owners in affected areas, schedule televising during non-winter months when possible and return with progress updates.