Brandon Twp.- The final tally is in and it appears sewers are not in the cards.
Residents and businesses along the M-15 corridor, Bald Eagle Lake and Lake Louise mailed back to the township 661 postcards, 55.3 percent of the 1,195 postage-paid postcards that were sent out last month polling them on their interest in sewers.
Of the cards returned, 416, or 58.8 percent were ‘no? votes, compared to 245, or 42.2 percent, that were ‘yes? votes.
‘The indication to me is that people don’t want to support the expense,? said Supervisor Ron Lapp. ‘Some of the postcards marked ‘no? had very detailed and some graphic and pointed explanations. They were adamantly opposed.?
Township officials decided to do the straw poll of residents following a Jan. 30 wastewater treatment plant study session with village officials, who are ready to pursue a location for a wastewater treatment plant, possibly land recently purchased by the township. The village needs a plant that would accomodate at least 1,000 units. If the township were to join in the endeavor, another 3,500 units would be needed for residents around the lakes and the M-15 corridor, the proposed sewer district.
Engineers for the village have said it would not be feasible to build a plant large enough for just the village and then expand it at a later date to accomodate township residents.
Lapp is currently preparing spread sheets to see how the votes went by area and plans to schedule a study session with the township board within the next two weeks.
‘I’m not very optimistic with moving forward or having engineers put together a package (for a public hearing),? he said.