Ortonville- If all the stars and planets in the universe are lined up correctly, the village could have sewers in 2010, says Village Manager Ed Coy.
The village council and Brandon Township Board will take a step toward their own alignment when they have a study session to discuss future plans for a waste water treatment system beginning at 6 p.m., Jan. 30, at the Old Town Hall, 486 Mill St. Attorneys and engineers for each will also be present. The meeting is open to the public.
‘We will generally discuss where the village is at, where we’re at, and what we may do cooperatively,? said Township Supervisor Ron Lapp. ‘We’ll brainstorm and see where we’re going.?
Coy says they will talk about the need for municipal wastewater treatment in the village and how they plan on pursuing it.
‘The township has purchased property and we’d like to know their feelings on using part of that for the system and if they have any ideas,? said Coy. ‘I’m hoping the township will start to think about letting us buy land or steal land or borrow some land.?
The village has had septic issues for years, often with the Oakland County Health Division and Deparment of Environmental Quality intervening, including, more recently:
n The Village Pub, 411 Mill St. Amy Guirey, owner of the Pub, spent an estimated $100,000 to have the establishment on a pump and haul system for the past two years after the septic failed and before a new water treatment system could be installed. To enable installation of the new system, the village council funded the rerouting of a storm drain at a cost of $27,995. The work was completed last summer.
n E.Coli in Kearsley Creek. The creek had elevated levels of E.coli bacteria in tests performed in May and September by the OCHD. The May levels measured at 618 CFU (colony forming units) and 780 CFU, while September levels were 1,300 CFU and 1,553 CFU. A safe level is considered to be 300 CFU or less.
The Village Pub was thought to be a possible source of the creek contamination, but was found not to be after the business fixed their septic problem and the creek’s E.coli levels remained unsafe. Coy believes part of the contamination may have come from outside of the village. The creek will be checked again in April.
n The Brandon Township Public Library, 304 South St. The library’s septic field failed in October and the library was forced to have a new engineered system put in at a cost of $77,260.
It appears more problems are looming. The septic system serving the businesses in the strip mall with Ken’s Coney Island Restaurant, 100 S. Ortonville Road needs work, hindering a new business from coming in. The village planning commission OK’d the business, a vet clinic, contingent upon a letter from OCHD saying the current septic system would be sufficient, says Coy. However, an inspection by the health division showed improvements are needed.
The village first released a preliminary sanitary sewer timeline in October 2005. That timeline was replaced by a second one in February 2006 in which dates were moved back. A third timeline is currently being worked on by Leanne Panduren of Rowe Incorporated. Dates have been extended again and tasks added. Coy expects to distribute the revised timeline at the study session.
‘If nothing else, I hope everyone understands each other and what our needs and problems are,? says Coy of the meeting with the township board.
Township officials have said they need sewers for the M-15 corridor and particularly for homes on Bald Eagle Lake, however, Lapp said, ‘I don’t think we’re as far along as the village may be in their planning. We need to get some dialogue opened up to see where we are going. I don’t know that we’re ready and I don’t know if the economic climate is that good to go and say we’re going to do sewers.?