Ortonville- The lack of sewers in the village has become such a critical situation that the issue is going to the nation’s capitol.
Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Brighton) and the Oakland County Drain Commissioner’s Office have requested $2 million in a State and Tribal Assistance Grant for the village as the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee considers Fiscal Year 2007 spending.
‘The village is my number one priority in the interior request for money,? says Rogers, who represents the 8th District in Michigan, including Ortonville. ‘It’s a tight budget year, but we got some money in 2004- $1 million to study and look at the grants, so this is our follow-up. It’s a small investment of the total picture for what is really important for our community.?
A study conducted in 2004 estimated the total cost of a sanitary sewage collection and treatment system for the village would exceed $14 million- a cost that would increase by an additional $2 million if Brandon High School and Brandon Middle School were included in the system.
A 2004 report from the Oakland County Drain Commission on the Sanitary Sewage Collection and Treatment System for the village notes that businesses and a population of 1,535 residents (2000 census data) living in 572 homes have relied upon individual septic systems for sewage disposal and upon individual wells for potable water.
‘The quality of the Ortonville’s drinking water is in jeopardy due to failing septic systems impacting ground water and contaminating water wells,? the report states. ‘Tests performed on a number of the wells indicated that nitrates and coliform bacteria were present in some of the wells. Nitrates and coliform typically result from failing septic systems when raw, or only partially treated, sewage is present.?
Soil conditions and lack of space on home and business sites in Ortonville makes it difficult and sometimes impossible to upgrade septic systems. Cost is often prohibitive.
The report asserts that residents cannot be expected to abandon their homes because the soils are unable to accept treated wastewater.
‘Further, the streams are too small to assimilate treated wastewater, and the surrounding wastewater treatment providers will not provide service. If Oakland County is to continue to be the economic engine for the region, this critical issue must be addressed,? the report concluded.
Oakland County Drain Commissioner John McCulloch says the situation is indeed critical and the lack of sewers is currently posing health risks, with contamination of the groundwater and wells that are utilizing groundwater.
‘In Ortonville the immediate need is to address environmental issues,? he said. ‘They’ve been struggling for some time. It’s a matter of balancing the benefit with cost… It’s one of the top six issues we’ve gone to Washington with. The community will be in a much better position to address this instead of it being mandated. When something is mandated, you lose all your options. If something is mandated, you may lose the opportunity to have other funding.?
Rogers believes the $2 million request is a reasonable amount to ask ‘for a community in need like ours.?
If obtained, the money would be applied to the total project cost, including start-up, planning and any engineering costs.
‘We have maxed out the septic,? Rogers said. ‘They can do no more on septics. If we don’t get this fixed it will create real problems.?
Rogers is cautiously optimistic about receiving the funds, although he says he is more cautious than optimistic in a tight budget year.
Village Manager Ed Coy is grateful for the assistance from McCulloch and Rogers.
‘It makes you feel good to know there’s someone else in your corner,? he says. ‘It’d be good to get anything for the folks in the village.?
Coy is encouraging residents to send letters of support to Rogers, encouraging him to pursue the $2 million grant.

Ortonville- The lack of sewers in the village has become such a critical situation that the issue is going to the nation’s capitol.
Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Brighton) and the Oakland County Drain Commissioner’s Office have requested $2 million in a State and Tribal Assistance Grant for the village as the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee considers Fiscal Year 2007 spending.
‘The village is my number one priority in the interior request for money,? says Rogers, who represents the 8th District in Michigan, including Ortonville. ‘It’s a tight budget year, but we got some money in 2004- $1 million to study and look at the grants, so this is our follow-up. It’s a small investment of the total picture for what is really important for our community.?
A study conducted in 2004 estimated the total cost of a sanitary sewage collection and treatment system for the village would exceed $14 million- a cost that would increase by an additional $2 million if Brandon High School and Brandon Middle School were included in the system.
A 2004 report from the Oakland County Drain Commission on the Sanitary Sewage Collection and Treatment System for the village notes that businesses and a population of 1,535 residents (2000 census data) living in 572 homes have relied upon individual septic systems for sewage disposal and upon individual wells for potable water.
‘The quality of the Ortonville’s drinking water is in jeopardy due to failing septic systems impacting ground water and contaminating water wells,? the report states. ‘Tests performed on a number of the wells indicated that nitrates and coliform bacteria were present in some of the wells. Nitrates and coliform typically result from failing septic systems when raw, or only partially treated, sewage is present.?
Soil conditions and lack of space on home and business sites in Ortonville makes it difficult and sometimes impossible to upgrade septic systems. Cost is often prohibitive.
The report asserts that residents cannot be expected to abandon their homes because the soils are unable to accept treated wastewater.
‘Further, the streams are too small to assimilate treated wastewater, and the surrounding wastewater treatment providers will not provide service. If Oakland County is to continue to be the economic engine for the region, this critical issue must be addressed,? the report concluded.
Oakland County Drain Commissioner John McCulloch says the situation is indeed critical and the lack of sewers is currently posing health risks, with contamination of the groundwater and wells that are utilizing groundwater.
‘In Ortonville the immediate need is to address environmental issues,? he said. ‘They’ve been struggling for some time. It’s a matter of balancing the benefit with cost… It’s one of the top six issues we’ve gone to Washington with. The community will be in a much better position to address this instead of it being mandated. When something is mandated, you lose all your options. If something is mandated, you may lose the opportunity to have other funding.?
Rogers believes the $2 million request is a reasonable amount to ask ‘for a community in need like ours.?
If obtained, the money would be applied to the total project cost, including start-up, planning and any engineering costs.
‘We have maxed out the septic,? Rogers said. ‘They can do no more on septics. If we don’t get this fixed it will create real problems.?
Rogers is cautiously optimistic about receiving the funds, although he says he is more cautious than optimistic in a tight budget year.
Village Manager Ed Coy is grateful for the assistance from McCulloch and Rogers.
‘It makes you feel good to know there’s someone else in your corner,? he says. ‘It’d be good to get anything for the folks in the village.?
Coy is encouraging residents to send letters of support to Rogers, encouraging him to pursue the $2 million grant.

Ortonville- The lack of sewers in the village has become such a critical situation that the issue is going to the nation’s capitol.
Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Brighton) and the Oakland County Drain Commissioner’s Office have requested $2 million in a State and Tribal Assistance Grant for the village as the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee considers Fiscal Year 2007 spending.
‘The village is my number one priority in the interior request for money,? says Rogers, who represents the 8th District in Michigan, including Ortonville. ‘It’s a tight budget year, but we got some money in 2004- $1 million to study and look at the grants, so this is our follow-up. It’s a small investment of the total picture for what is really important for our community.?
A study conducted in 2004 estimated the total cost of a sanitary sewage collection and treatment system for the village would exceed $14 million- a cost that would increase by an additional $2 million if Brandon High School and Brandon Middle School were included in the system.
A 2004 report from the Oakland County Drain Commission on the Sanitary Sewage Collection and Treatment System for the village notes that businesses and a population of 1,535 residents (2000 census data) living in 572 homes have relied upon individual septic systems for sewage disposal and upon individual wells for potable water.
‘The quality of the Ortonville’s drinking water is in jeopardy due to failing septic systems impacting ground water and contaminating water wells,? the report states. ‘Tests performed on a number of the wells indicated that nitrates and coliform bacteria were present in some of the wells. Nitrates and coliform typically result from failing septic systems when raw, or only partially treated, sewage is present.?
Soil conditions and lack of space on home and business sites in Ortonville makes it difficult and sometimes impossible to upgrade septic systems. Cost is often prohibitive.
The report asserts that residents cannot be expected to abandon their homes because the soils are unable to accept treated wastewater.
‘Further, the streams are too small to assimilate treated wastewater, and the surrounding wastewater treatment providers will not provide service. If Oakland County is to continue to be the economic engine for the region, this critical issue must be addressed,? the report concluded.
Oakland County Drain Commissioner John McCulloch says the situation is indeed critical and the lack of sewers is currently posing health risks, with contamination of the groundwater and wells that are utilizing groundwater.
‘In Ortonville the immediate need is to address environmental issues,? he said. ‘They’ve been struggling for some time. It’s a matter of balancing the benefit with cost… It’s one of the top six issues we’ve gone to Washington with. The community will be in a much better position to address this instead of it being mandated. When something is mandated, you lose all your options. If something is mandated, you may lose the opportunity to have other funding.?
Rogers believes the $2 million request is a reasonable amount to ask ‘for a community in need like ours.?
If obtained, the money would be applied to the total project cost, including start-up, planning and any engineering costs.
‘We have maxed out the septic,? Rogers said. ‘They can do no more on septics. If we don’t get this fixed it will create real problems.?
Rogers is cautiously optimistic about receiving the funds, although he says he is more cautious than optimistic in a tight budget year.
Village Manager Ed Coy is grateful for the assistance from McCulloch and Rogers.
‘It makes you feel good to know there’s someone else in your corner,? he says. ‘It’d be good to get anything for the folks in the village.?
Coy is encouraging residents to send letters of support to Rogers, encouraging him to pursue the $2 million grant.

Ortonville- The lack of sewers in the village has become such a critical situation that the issue is going to the nation’s capitol.
Congressman Mike Rogers (R-Brighton) and the Oakland County Drain Commissioner’s Office have requested $2 million in a State and Tribal Assistance Grant for the village as the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee considers Fiscal Year 2007 spending.
‘The village is my number one priority in the interior request for money,? says Rogers, who represents the 8th District in Michigan, including Ortonville. ‘It’s a tight budget year, but we got some money in 2004- $1 million to study and look at the grants, so this is our follow-up. It’s a small investment of the total picture for what is really important for our community.?
A study conducted in 2004 estimated the total cost of a sanitary sewage collection and treatment system for the village would exceed $14 million- a cost that would increase by an additional $2 million if Brandon High School and Brandon Middle School were included in the system.
A 2004 report from the Oakland County Drain Commission on the Sanitary Sewage Collection and Treatment System for the village notes that businesses and a population of 1,535 residents (2000 census data) living in 572 homes have relied upon individual septic systems for sewage disposal and upon individual wells for potable water.
‘The quality of the Ortonville’s drinking water is in jeopardy due to failing septic systems impacting ground water and contaminating water wells,? the report states. ‘Tests performed on a number of the wells indicated that nitrates and coliform bacteria were present in some of the wells. Nitrates and coliform typically result from failing septic systems when raw, or only partially treated, sewage is present.?
Soil conditions and lack of space on home and business sites in Ortonville makes it difficult and sometimes impossible to upgrade septic systems. Cost is often prohibitive.
The report asserts that residents cannot be expected to abandon their homes because the soils are unable to accept treated wastewater.
‘Further, the streams are too small to assimilate treated wastewater, and the surrounding wastewater treatment providers will not provide service. If Oakland County is to continue to be the economic engine for the region, this critical issue must be addressed,? the report concluded.
Oakland County Drain Commissioner John McCulloch says the situation is indeed critical and the lack of sewers is currently posing health risks, with contamination of the groundwater and wells that are utilizing groundwater.
‘In Ortonville the immediate need is to address environmental issues,? he said. ‘They’ve been struggling for some time. It’s a matter of balancing the benefit with cost… It’s one of the top six issues we’ve gone to Washington with. The community will be in a much better position to address this instead of it being mandated. When something is mandated, you lose all your options. If something is mandated, you may lose the opportunity to have other funding.?
Rogers believes the $2 million request is a reasonable amount to ask ‘for a community in need like ours.?
If obtained, the money would be applied to the total project cost, including start-up, planning and any engineering costs.
‘We have maxed out the septic,? Rogers said. ‘They can do no more on septics. If we don’t get this fixed it will create real problems.?
Rogers is cautiously optimistic about receiving the funds, although he says he is more cautious than optimistic in a tight budget year.
Village Manager Ed Coy is grateful for the assistance from McCulloch and Rogers.
‘It makes you feel good to know there’s someone else in your corner,? he says. ‘It’d be good to get anything for the folks in the village.?
Coy is encouraging residents to send letters of support to Rogers, encouraging him to pursue the $2 million grant.