Moran Township To Extend Water Lines
By Paul Gingras

To provide current and future residents with water service and increased fire protection, the Moran Township Board of Trustees has agreed to provide $15,000 to $20,000 for a new water main on Fourth Street, near St. Ignace Area schools. The resolution was passed at the regular meeting Wednesday, September 6, the result of a request by Darren and Samantha LaVake, who live on Fourth Street and requested an extension of a 300- foot-long, one-inch-diameter service line to their property.

Les Therrian, director of the St. Ignace Department of Public Works, told the board that a oneinch line would be inadequate to provide fire service and a new water main would be necessary.

The LaVakes have agreed to pay for excavation, and easements will required by two other landowners as well as St. Ignace Area Schools, which owns the road. More housing is likely to be developed in the area, said Township Clerk Kris Vallier.

In related news, the board voted to pay township fire hydrant rental fees to the city of St. Ignace with money from the township's water fund, rather than through the general fund. By using the general fund, residents who were not connected to the water system were helping to pay for it.

Fire hydrant rental fees are used to support the St. Ignace water infrastructure, which produces enough water flow to provide fire service in St. Ignace Township, Moran Township, and the city of St. Ignace.

The township has paid $200 to the city for monthly maintenance on each of its hydrants for decades, but the number of hydrants has increased from 15 in 2004 to 49 in 2006. The increase now generates an annual bill of $9,800 to the township that has sparked citizen complaints.

Further, the township isn't bringing in enough money to support replacement of water lines in the future, and this could become a "serious problem," said Supervisor Jim Durm.

"We have to build up a fund," he said.

Part of the problem lies along US-2, he added. Some residents are tapped into the US-2 line and are helping to pay for the system, while others continue to use wells and do not. Everyone in the area benefits from increased the fire protection offered by the hydrants, however, and all residents along US-2 have

the potential to qualify for home insurance premium reductions for being near the hydrants.

Not everyone in the area is helping to pay for the line, however, Mr. Durm said, and as a result, the township is compiling a list of which residents benefit from the US-2 line and expects to pass the water line increase on to them.

In other business, the board voted to authorize the purchase of a new ambulance for $89,996, pending the approval of five other municipalities which also contract with Allied EMS System. These units include the City of St. Ignace, Brevort Township, Hendricks Township, St. Ignace Township, and Hudson Township.

If approved, the ambulance cost will be shared by each municipality, based on population, but the exact amount for each was not available at press time.

Owing to increased runs, Allied earned $367,000 in 2005 and $285,000 in 2004, but prices for new ambulances are expected to rise this November, prompting Dave Slifka of Allied to suggest purchasing the new vehicle in October.