Sewer Rate Increase

As this website reported on September 9th, litigation over the Southern Regional Interceptor (SRI) sewer bond payments has been settled.  Liberty and Hanover settled 18 months ago.  The remaining litigants were Columbia Township, Leoni Township, and Jackson County.  The journey on this long, bumpy, expensive legal path commenced in 2015.  It was by far the oldest civil case pending in the Jackson County Circuit Court.

As a result of the settlement, Columbia Township must make an immediate payment of $550,000.  The Township has the money, but once paid, it’s not known how that account will be replenished.  Beyond that unknown, each current sewer user may soon pay an additional $18.45 more per quarter.  Of that, $9.15 is attributed to maintenance costs, and $9.30 to debt service.  The outstanding sewer debt is about $300,000 and will be paid incrementally through July 2025.  As the Township board has not yet voted on this increase, the rise in sewer rates, as described here, is an estimate only.  During last night’s meeting, Supervisor Barry Marsh referred to the sewer system as a “money pit that no one ever anticipated would turn out as it has.”

The bond debt was created to finance the expansion of the SRI into Columbia, Hanover, and Liberty Townships.  Leoni Township, which operates the sewer processing plant, had also pledged to pay the bond debt, which was under the full faith and credit of Jackson County.  The litigation began when Leoni defaulted and refused to make payments on the bond debt.  Instead, Jackson County made payments to bond holders during the period of litigation.

What’s ironic is the small number of Columbia Township customers who are connected to this part of the sewer system—only seven.  Nonetheless Columbia Township is on the hook for the settlement amount of $550,000.  When parties go to trial, there is always a chance that the outcome will be detrimental even if you think you’re in the right.  Columbia Township Treasurer John Calhoun states “While this decision is not the way we wanted this matter to be resolved, we recognize the benefit of moving on from the litigant’s claims.  We must move beyond the legal maneuvering that has cost residents and customers over many years.  This is why Columbia Township is continuing to research all options available to ensure that our citizens have access to reliable wastewater treatment at a reasonable price without exorbitant monthly rate increases.”

Cannabis

When the electorate legalized cannabis in Michigan, the Columbia Township board quickly voted to ban local businesses from dealing in it in some fashion.  Township attorney Eric White advised the board last night (Mon 9/19) on possible future consequences.  Those who want cannabis-oriented businesses to operate in the Township could initiate a referendum to be put on the ballot.  No one could predict whether it would pass, and more importantly, how expansive such a proposal could be.  A middle ground might be to allow some cannabis business activity but restrict it not to go beyond the perceived views of the community.  Eric White recommended the Township hold a public hearing to gauge community support or opposition.

Eric White speaking to the Township board on September 19th

Placing such a referendum on the ballot would require petitions with favorable signatures amounting to 5% of those who voted for governor in Columbia Township (in the most recent election when the governor’s race was on the ballot).  Reference PA 333.27956.

Non-Motorized Path

The Township board voted last night to contribute $25,000 to the development of a new non-motorized path.  The group working on the project says the path would “allow for safe travel to, from and between the schools and connect the Lake Columbia and Clark Lake areas to the Village of Brooklyn.  The path is estimated to be between 2.5 to 3 miles in length and, to the extent possible, would use existing sidewalks in the village.”   Committee member Chuck Falahee says “the proposed path runs down Hewitt from the high/middle school to Turk, then down Turk to Cement City Road and from there into the Village of Brooklyn.”

The project has been under development for several years. By connecting the schools, the project is eligible for a Safe Route to Schools (SRTS) grant which would cover $900,000 of the cost.  The Jackson County Department of Transportation (JCDOT) has agreed to undertake the grant application and engineering for the project.  The engineering costs, about $100,000, won’t be covered by the grant and must be paid “up front.”  Some of that will be covered by the Township’s $25,000 contribution, to be paid from money received from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Both ARPA funds and the SRTS grant moneys come from taxpayers. The Michigan Fitness Foundation’s Colleen Synk says SRTS grants are “from federal funds that are dispersed from the Federal Highway Administration to Michigan Department of Transportation. Michigan Fitness Foundation administers the funds for mini grants and major grants non-infrastructure programming to encourage walking, biking and rolling to school.”

The group working on the project is asking for donations to cover the remaining engineering costs which can be made through the Irish Hills Community Legacy, PO Box 805, Brooklyn, MI 49230.  Committee members include Chuck Falahee, Jae Guetschow, and Tim O’Neil.