Special assessment districts have been proposed to help with sewer and drainage issues in two locations in Independence Township, and potentially affected property owners will have a chance to respond.
The June 9 township board meeting will include public hearings for proposed special assessment districts for storm water drainage in the Sashabaw Road corridor and for sanitary sewers along Andersonville Road and Lake Lane.
Both have been proposed based on petitions from owners of at least 50 percent of the property in both areas, and the Sashabaw drainage project is separate from a proposed road improvement special assessment district.
Township attorney Steve Joppich said the Sashabaw Road project is part of a proposed township-wide storm water ordinance that would establish a ‘regional drain.?
‘This is another piece of the puzzle or the pie,? Joppich told the board, noting that preliminary bids are being sought. ‘It is all coming to fruition at this point.?
If adopted, the ordinance would set drainage requirements for new development throughout the township, but developers in the Sashabaw Road corridor would have an option to connect to the regional drain.
Joppich said officials first considered a fee-based charge to help build the system, but that has been changed to the proposed special assessment district.
Cost of the project is anticipated to exceed $1 million, but Joppich said the value of the project is illustrated by the fact that several property owners in the district will commit to being part of the district well in advance of their planned development.
The Andersonville Road project will cost more than $250,000, with property owners expected to pay the additional cost of connecting to the new system.
Contracted township engineer Jamie Burton said most homes in the area currently have septic systems near the waterfront. Because of the topography of the area, a gravity-based system will not be sufficient, so a ‘low-pressure? design is being considered.
‘There’s some definite environmental and design challenges,? Burton said. ‘It’s going to be interesting to see how it unfolds.?
Officials noted that the roadway does not provide much of a shoulder in some areas, and there is a gas main to be considered as well. Burton said ‘directional drilling? will be needed.
Supervisor Dale Stuart recommended that the assessment be spread over a 20-year period to ease the burden on property owners.
‘This is a large amount of improvement and a small number of properties,? Stuart said.
Officials briefly discussed whether to move the location of the June 9 meeting because of the two public hearings, but they determined that the township library meeting room should be sufficient.