Villiage business septic woes mount

Ortonville- What started as an intended soil perk test on an easement next to the Village Pub on Feb. 28 yielded some surprises and more septic problems for the business.
Owner Amy Guirey has been under increasing pressure from the Oakland County Health Division and the Department of Environmental Quality to bring their septic system up-to-date. For the past 18 months, Guirey has struggled with septic problems at her business, located at 411 Mill St.
Guirey believed the problems, which included the septic tank backing up and overflowing, resulted from repairs made in July 2004 to a storm drain in the Brandon Township parking lot, adjacent to the pub. However, this does not appear to be the case after the Brandon Fire Department dumped 500 gallons of water into the drain on March 1 and it was determined it was working properly.
This unexpected development for the Pub came on the heels of discovering the day before that besides the three septic tanks on the Pub property, there are two more septic tanks on the easement granted by the village to the business. After being granted unanimous village council approval to use the village easement for the purpose of putting in a raised septic field, the news of additional septic tanks is a blow to Guirey.
All five tanks will need to be removed and two new tanks and an engineered septic field will need to be put in. Before this can be done, a plan must be devised to give to the Health Division and a retaining wall will need to be put in on the easement. The estimated cost is $40,000. This will be in addition to the $20,000 Guirey has already spent doing required pump and haul, surveys, and engineering just to keep the Pub open.
‘The financial end will be really tough, but we’ll do what we need to do,? Guirey says, crying. ‘It’s only because I have other assets besides the Pub that I’ve been able to keep it open. I am gambling my life savings on this.?
Guirey maintains the Pub is not alone in having septic problems. Village Manager Ed Coy agrees and says that is why the village is working on getting a municipal sewer system. A revised Sanitary Sewer System Preliminary Schedule was released last month by village officials. The new schedule features a September millage vote, a November bond issue vote (if required), finalization of a project plan for April-May 2007 and construction of a treatment system planned for July 2008- August 2009. The village is currently reviewing property options and wetlands issues.
Meanwhile, Guirey is looking at starting construction within 30 days on a new septic system before the rainy season arrives. She warns that while the Pub’s new system won’t cause problems, other businesses will have them.
‘I’m just the tip of the iceberg,? she says. ‘The DEQ said it will be 10 years before sewers get here if we have to go through all the redtape. If it is mandated, it will cost more. The village residents are worried about the cost, but they will pay no matter what. The flip side is they will have no property value if everything gets condemned. It’s a double-edged sword. Pay now or pay later.?

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