By Shelby Stewart
Staff Writer
On Monday night, the Ortonville Village Council voted 6-0 to approve a resolution asking Oakland County to use $25 million of the American Rescue Plan funds they are set to receive to fund phase 1 of a major sewer project. Council member Tony Randazzo was absent with notice.
If approved, the project would extend sewer service along Dixie Highway to Grange Hall Road in Groveland Township and to reserve capacity for phase 2 of the project, which would extend the sewers over to the village and Brandon Township.
“Just like Brandon Township did in May, this resolution demonstrates that the Village of Ortonville is very interested in having capacity in the regional Kearsley Creek Interceptor sewer system if and when the Village is ready to utilize this capacity,” said Village Manager Ryan Madis.

“It doesn’t commit any Village resources to the project, but shows the county that we want to see this project come to fruition.”
The resolution doesn’t commit any village funds to the project, but does let Oakland County know the project is needed and the community is interested in it.
However, at the same time during the Brandon Township regular meeting, board member Steve Unruh said Oakland County would not allocate any funds for the project.
“I went over and spoke to supervisor DePalma of Groveland Township in regards to sewers, and how that was supposed to be coming about,” said Unruh, who is also on the subcommittee to find funding for the sewer project. “I sat there for an hour, I was excited thinking this money was going to come in, and I ended up being disappointed. As you know we also have money coming into the county to the tune of $244 million. None of that is going to come for us, it’s going to go to many other places that they’re going to do like 5G network.”
While the township is looking at other possible funding options, the cost of the project continues to rise for all communities involved, including Groveland, Holly, Brandon and Ortonville.