Faced with raw sewage flowing into roadside ditches, Brookfield Center residents were told Monday they have two options to resolve the problem: either ask the county to install a sanitary sewer system or install them through a private extension.

The first option would cost more, but the second would give residents more power to decide how and where sewers would get constructed.

Streets involved in the second phase of sewer construction include Seaborn and Grove and old state Route 82.

Frank Migliozzi, county environmental health director, said officials profiled the Brookfield Center area, asked residents what types of septic systems they had, compiled the information and drew up a map of those findings, which he presented at Monday's meeting.

Migliozzi said in ditches that were sampled, fecal counts numbered in the millions, but the counts should never climb higher than 5,000.

Tom Holloway, the county sanitary engineer told residents Monday that the first option would allow them to petition the county to build the sewers and do the hiring and construction for the project, but homeowners would be charged for service laterals, tap-in fees and construction fees at between $55 and $65 per linear foot.

The entire project could take two to three years, Holloway said.

Holloway said there are legal and bond costs associated with that option, and residents would have 30 days after the assessment to pay the cost or have the balance assessed against their property for 20 years.

He added that the second choice would give residents power to create an association that would choose its own contractor. After the homeowners get their funds together and the project is completed, the county would then operate and maintain the systems.

Holloway acknowledged, after questioning from the residents, that the second option could potentially save residents more money.

"It's possible to save one-third of the cost through private extension," he said. "If you want to save money, it's the route to take; you'll save a considerable amount of money. It's a large project, but it can be done."

"The hardest part in a private extension project is getting people to participate," he added.

He said that in a private extension, the association of residents could choose to put sewers in some places but not others.

Migliozzi added that if residents decide to upgrade their systems and forget about putting in sewers now, it may cost them in the future.

"If you choose to forgo sewers currently ... and if someone would do a sewer project in the future, we would require you to abandon whatever money you spent on upgrades and tie into the sewer," he said. "It's the law."

Migliozzi said that upgrades to existing systems would cost homeowners between $10,000 and $12,000.