Sewer System Rules Further Defined

Facing a sewer system at near capacity, Mackinac Island has further defined its rules for granting new users access to the system. A policy about sewer system use that addresses Residential Equivalent Units (REUs) that have been assigned, paid for, and not used was adopted by the Mackinac Island Board of Public Works (BPW) Friday, December 14.

The new policy calls for a refund of 40% to those who return REUs to the Department of Public Works (DPW), if a project fails to materialize.

REUs are issued with building permits and through application when no building permit is needed. For example, a conversion from a septic system to the city's sewer system does not require a building permit. Also, the city does not have jurisdiction for building permits in Mackinac Island State Park.

Once assigned, states the new policy, the REU is restricted to the project indicated on the permit or application.

Connecting to the public sewer system is a conditional privilege, states the policy, and is not a property right.

The right to an REU expires if a building permit is allowed to expire. If no building permit is involved, the purchaser has 12 months to connect to the public sewer system before the REUs become invalid and revert to the DPW.

Currently, the city restricts the number of new REUs to 15 a year for all of Mackinac Island, at least three of which are issued only for single-family homes. The price of an REU, which is granted on a firstcome basis, is $5,587.