By Susan Bromley

Staff Writer

Ortonville– Voters may have flushed a sewer proposal a year ago, but it’s not down the drain yet.

At the village council’s Nov. 28 meeting, Village Manager David Trent announced his plans to meet with Rowe Engineering as well as local officials to discuss possible collaborative efforts as well as funding opportunities for sewer infrastructure.

“Are there funding grants in the area of $20 million?” asked Trustee Dan Eschmann, referring to the approximate cost of sewers for the village.

Trent responded that he had his “fingers crossed” and it was all discussion until January when the newly elected take office, including Donald Trump, whom Trent cited as having expressed an interest in infrastructure.

“The residents are concerned we’re opening sewers after they voted it down,” said Eschmann.

In November 2015, village voters defeated the sewer proposal by 486 no votes, or 88.20 percent, to 65 yes votes, 11.80 percent.

If the ballot proposal had passed, village officials would have entered into a contract with Oakland County for the issuance of bonds in the amount of an estimated $20,000,000 toward the acquisition and construction of sewage disposal facilities. Approval would have enabled village officials to levy a special assessment of approximately $25,550 on each resident in the village, and more on school facilities and certain commercial properties. Village officials had planned to seek a federal loan to spread payments for residents over the course of 40 years, but interest would still have accrued, making potential overall costs higher. A quarterly usage fee would also have been charged to residents and the high expense outraged residents.

The village has debated sewers for decades, with proponents of a wastewater treatment system citing pollution of the creek, a lack of business growth, and failing septic systems. Over the course of the past few years, village officials took steps to bring the village closer to getting sewer infrastructure, including purchasing property for a wastewater treatment system, conducting studies, and obtaining DEQ permits.

While the village council has been moving toward implementation of a septic ordinance that would require maintenance of systems, Monday night was the first time in months that discussion about sewers has surfaced.

Trent said his discussion with Rowe, the village’s engineering firm, was just to get an understanding of the background on the referendum that went to citizens last year since he is new to the village. He also wanted an appreciation of engineering and financing requirements for a wastewater treatment plant.

“I want to understand the background of what the commjunity has considered up to this point and going forward, I want to interface with our congressional and state representatives to investigate the potential of funding sources being made available next year for infrastructure needs of local communities including sewers,” said Trent. “I will be meeting with county officials next month.”

Trent plans to meet with the Oakland County Health Division officials, as well as County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, who he hopes will work on behalf of the village, using his political influence.

“I have a $20 million dream,” said Trent, who acknowledged the possibility of still having to seek a special assessment district for the village depending on funding available. He also hopes to take a regional approach to sewers, drawing in Brandon Township and the school district to defray costs.

The school district has long had issues with their wastewater treatment plant at the middle school and high school and has been mandated by the Department of Environmental Quality to replace the system by 2019. Township residents around Bald Eagle Lake and Lake Louise in particular would benefit from sewers as septic systems fail and space is limited to relocate septic fields.

“Even though the bond issue for the sewer project was decidedly voted down last year, some of the dynamics are changing where some residents within the township, especially the lakes community, are recognizing a growing need for an alternative to their current septic system where they can minimize the impacts on their lakes,” said Trent. “They are open to the idea of having sewers and obviously the school district is faced with septic issues with the county health code requirements.”

He noted that a resident called him the day after the council meeting to voice concerns about where he was headed with the subject of sewers and emphasized that he hopes to get grants to offset financial costs for residents.

“Realistically, it could be a couple years down the road whether it would be something to bring back to the voters and if it is something that requires a vote of citizens, we will share all those details in a timely fashion to address their concerns,” said Trent.