Clark Township is hiring engineering consultant C2AE to conduct a $35,500 study of the township's wastewater treatment and propose long-term fixes to the problematic system, particularly to failing sewer grinder pumps, and will seek a new assessor, after terminating Polly Cairns, who already had quit.

Over the next several months, C2AE will study the entire sewer system and make a recommendation as to which repairs and upgrades the township should make.

The township board approved the study, expected to be completed by the end of this year, at its Thursday, September 17, meeting. The study will be funded through the township's operations and maintenance fund.

"They're going to give us an analysis of what's wrong and what we can do to fix it," Township Clerk Mike Miller said.

C2AE, which has offices in Escanaba and Gaylord, will also apply for low-interest federal Rural Development loans on behalf of the township to fund upgrades. The loans, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will need to be applied for by September 15, 2010.

The grinder pumps were installed in 1991 and 1992 as part of a township sewer project and were thought to be good for about 40 years. The pumps are breaking down in less than half that time, however, owing, the township contends, to faulty design. Damaged valves and corroded pipes in the pump systems allow backups, and pump warranties have expired.

"That system was considered innovative technology at the time," C2AE engineer Randy Scott, who proposed the study at the township board meeting, said. "The feds were pushing that. They wanted the communities to pick up this innovative technology, and that was one of the items that were considered innovative at that time. We didn't intend for them to fail. The data didn't show they were going to be a problem at that time, but they failed."

Mr. Scott suggested the township may be able to replace the pump mechanisms rather than the entire pump assembly.

Township assessor terminated

The board released contracted assessor Polly Cairns, owner of Watson Assessing Services, for violating her contract with the township. The board claims Ms. Cairns was not available and accessible to township officials and property owners as often as her contract required her to be.

Under the contract, the company was required to hold office hours in Clark Township a minimum of 12 hours over at least two days and available by telephone five days a week during normal business hours. The scheduled office hours at the Township Hall were Mondays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Tuesdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.,

"As far as I'm concerned, she has violated and continues to violate her contract," Mr. Miller said. "We are paying this woman $2,269.23 every two weeks and she has been bringing in other people to sit in her spot. We don't know half the time who's coming here," or if they're qualified for the level assessor the township is paying for under contract with Ms. Cairns.

Ms. Cairns tendered her resignation August 27, for personal reasons, and gave 90 days notice. The board decided to release Ms. Cairns early and seek an immediate replacement before the end of that 90 days for breach of contract. She was released under a clause allowing the township to terminate her for cause and has been given 15 days notice of her termination.

The board township is seeking a level-two assessor, which it is the minimum it is required to hire under state law, to replace Ms. Cairns, a level-three assessor. She was hired as an independent contractor in July 2008 and is also the assessor for Glen Arbor Township near Traverse City.

In other news, the board will provide up to $600 for Chet Kasper, Kathy Kasper, and David Crockett to attend an emergency medical technician training seminar in Marquette Friday, October 2, and Saturday, October 3. The money will pay for registration, travel, and lodging expenses.

Clark Township will also be advertising to hire a new part-time cleaning service to clean the Township Hall, Township Community Center, and fire and ambulance hall. Carol Hamel, will leave the position Thursday, October 1, but offered to help train whoever the township hires to replace her.

"Carol has been an asset. We owe her a very big thank you. She goes above and beyond. She's done an excellent job," Mr. Miller said. "She said it had nothing to do with anything except that she is getting up there in age and her back is letting her know it. So she figures it's time to give that up."