Ortonville-A focus group will meet from 6-8 p.m., Aug. 5 at the Old Town Hall, 486 Mill St., to answer questions regarding proposed sewers in the village.
‘We’re looking for more friends, businesses, and residents to join,? said Linda Davis-Kirksey, a consultant hired by Livable Legacy of Ortonville, which is sponsoring the focus group. ‘We had a really good response at our first focus group a month ago.?
Robert Renchik formed ‘Livable Legacy of Ortonville,? a pro-sewer committee, in April. The group is seeking to answer questions and concerns regarding a proposed wastewater treatment system in the village prior to a vote on the issue in November.
At the Aug. 5 meeting, Davis-Kirksey will be joined by committee members, officials from Oakland County, as well as Rowe Engineering, in presenting information about bonds, ballot language, the proposed project and costs.
The village council has submitted ballot language for a sewage disposal system contract proposition to the Oakland County Elections Board. If the board approves the submission, voters will see the following proposal on the Nov. 3 ballot:
‘The proposed Oakland County Ortonville Sewage Disposal System Contract between the County of Oakland and the Village of Ortonville dated as of Dec. 1, 2015 provides for the acquisition and construction of sewage disposal facilities comprising the Oakland County Ortonville Sewage Disposal System Project at an estimated cost of $20,000,000, for the issuance of bonds by the County of Oakland in one or more series to defray the costs of such facilities and for the pledge of the full faith and credit of the Village of Ortonville to the payment of amounts to the County of Oakland which are sufficient to pay the principal of and interest on such bonds. Pursuant to such pledge, the Village of Ortonville is obligated, subject to constitutional, statutory and charter tax limitations, to levy ad valorem taxes on all taxable property in the Village of Ortonville to enable it to make such payments to the County of Oakland to the extent that other funds, including special assessment and sewage disposal system revenues, are not available. Shall the contract be approved??
If voters approve the proposition, the village will seek a 40-year Rural Development Loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to pay for the project, which would put a special assessment of about $25,550 on each residential equivalency unit in the village limits. Critics of the plan note that, including interest, the assessment alone could cost homeowners nearly $50,000 over the course of the loan. Additionally, proposed annual maintenance fees are currently estimated to be about $600 and would increase with inflation.
Economic development, environmental health, and the high cost of engineered septic fields to replace failing ones are the most-often cited reasons for bringing sewers to the village. The issue has been debated for decades, while costs for a potential wastewater treatment system rise. Also increasing are the costs for engineered septic fields, often needed when existing septic fields fail on small village lots.
Renchik said the purpose of the focus group is to educate voters. He said the pro-sewer committee is also planning a door-to-door campaign this weekend and next.
‘This is not about changing minds, it’s about giving them information so they can make an informed decision,? said Renchik. ‘A lot of people aren’t engaged unless they read something about it or talk to fellow neighbors and business owners. We really want to make them aware, not persuade them. We want concerns allayed so that when you go to vote, you make an informed decision.?
There is limited space at the Old Town Hall for the focus group meeting. To RSVP, call Linda Davis-Kirksey at 248-608-8141 or email
daviskirksey@gmail.com.