By David Fleet
Editor
Goodrich— On Tuesday night the village council voted 4-0 to move forward an draft agreement to join in the funding and usage with Grand Blanc and Davison townships along with the Northwestern Oakland Drain Drainage District for construction of the Kearsley Creek Interceptor North. The meeting included Jeff Wright, Genesee County Drain Commissioner along with two Atlas Township officials. In June Atlas Township voted to support the KCI North project.
The $33 million project, projected to begin in the spring of 2023 will provide public sewer service to some areas and add sewer capacity to other communities where it may be insufficient.
The estimated cost of the interceptor is an estimated $32.9 million, of which Oakland and Genesee counties will contribute $5 million each. The $22.9 million will be divided over other communities with Goodrich contributing an estimated $478,610 for the project.
In addition, the village voted 4-0 to approve Atlas Township to purchase five REUs from the village to be used in the township. Grand Blanc Township will loan the village up to 30 REUs, with 25 for the village and five for Atlas Township. The REUs are used to calculate sewer and water costs, based on usage. The village is requesting 300 units for the near and future growth of the community. After the KCI is completed the village and Atlas Township will return the REUs to Grand Blanc Township. The rent on the REUs is 10 percent of the value.
Atlas Township Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones attended the special meeting. The five REUs are necessary for a potential multi-unit renovation and rebuilding project in the Village of Atlas. In addition, the township recently approved a sewer master plan for areas of the community for existing developed residential sites, having difficulty supporting their on-site septic system.
“This is not for large tracts of land developments,” said Kautman-Jones. “The REUs would be for areas around bodies of water and we’ve had two homeowners associations that have contacted the township for sewer support.”
The township would need 500 units to satisfy any future needs for sanitary sewers for existing homes. The cost of the project along with a final draft of the agreements will be completed next spring. The project will take an estimated five years to complete.