Meridian files suit against Kuna HOA over sewer pond costs

The City of Meridian has filed a lawsuit against the Bittercreek Meadows homeowners association in Kuna. The city seeks a court order declaring that the association must pay for the decommissioning of a local sewer lagoon.

The legal conflict stems from a settlement agreement signed in 2013. Under that agreement, Meridian agreed to provide sewer services to the neighborhood lots. The document also stipulated that the city would eventually pay to connect the subdivision to Kuna’s municipal sewer system. The terms included payment of connection fees, conveyance fees, and other charges. The city was also responsible for all construction work necessary for the connection and for restoring improvements disturbed by that construction.

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has required the neighborhood to decommission its sewer lagoon pool as part of the connection process. Meridian argues that the homeowners association should bear the cost of this work. The city notes that it did not build the pond and was not involved in the decision-making process that created it. The lawsuit states that the pond is owned by the homeowners association. Meridian has maintained the pond since the beginning of the development.

Bittercreek Meadows HOA disagrees with the city’s position. The association contends that the sewer pond falls under the necessary work that Meridian must pay for under the settlement. Legal documents from the HOA’s counsel state that the agreement’s terms are clear and unambiguous. They assert that the city is required to decommission and close the ponds at its own expense as part of its obligation to connect the neighborhood to Kuna’s system. The HOA claims that the city’s lawsuit breaches the settlement agreement.

Both parties have asked a judge to resolve the disagreement by naming the other party responsible for the decommissioning costs. A court trial on the matter is scheduled for April 5, 2027.