PROSPECT — Borough council members approved a fee Monday that will affect property owners who have unused sewer tap-ins on their property.

Residents with unused taps will be charged a monthly fee of $25 per tap. The policy could affect about a dozen of the borough's 1,200 residents, according to Sam Wagner, council vice president.

Wagner said there will be repercussions for failed fee payments.

“If they don't pay for it within a year, then they'll end up losing it,” Wagner said.

Wagner said council members decided that it was unfair to allow those with unused taps to avoid paying into the sewage system.

“It's not fair that they're sitting on these taps, and we have people that want taps, and we don't have any to give them,” Wagner said.

The payments would be made along with regular sewage bills, which as of January, will be directed to the borough building, according to Wagner.

Wagner said residents with unused sewer taps will get a coupon booklet that would account for the number of taps on the property.

“So, we don't overcharge anybody,” he said.

Once the coupons are received, the residents will be responsible for paying their tap fees by mail, in-person or through direct checking.

“If they pay the fees, there won't be any further action,” Wagner said.