Stymied in efforts to push through a three-pronged sewer plan, consulting firm C2AE and the Clark Township Sewer Advisory Committee will recommend to the Clark Township board at the board's next meeting, Thursday, May 20, that each prong is treated separately in the future. This new approach would mean wastewater treatment options, grinder pump station replacements and maintenance, and major pump station repairs would all be independent projects. Grants and a tax increase may be methods considered to pay for the work.

In addition to making the price tag of sewer system improvements more palatable, the commit tee concluded at a Tuesday, May 11, meeting that this strategy could increase the chances of being approved for outside funding.

“We would optimize grant dollars by breaking this into smaller parts,” said Randy Scott, C2AE's director of Upper Peninsula operations, who said smaller projects are being viewed more favorably in the current economic climate.

In assessing merits and components of the three phases, Mr. Scott said the township may find the best individual approaches to each. For instance, the proposed the treatment component could be financed with a millage to be approved by voters, since treated wastewater affects everyone in the community. The treated sewage is currently collected, treated, and released into Cedarville Bay twice a year. Several residents have said they would like alternative methods explored, including spraying the treated water onto a crop , rather than dumping it in the bay.

“Either way, one advantage of putting it to a millage vote is that the township could move ahead on the treatment component right away,” Mr. Scott said. “It would also be a pretty good gauge as to how the community feels about this aspect of the sewer system.”

Asking taxpayers to fund this phase would be the least expensive of the three independent projects. According to figures presented in March, land application would carry a $1.37 million price tag, while effluent filtration would run $970,000. The latter option is similar to what is done now, save for the fact that the release of treated water into the bay would be daily, with an increased need for monitoring.

The grinder pumps and pump stations would cost considerably more, making up the rest of what was originally proposed as a $6.3 million project. In trying to find a funding source for these aspects of the sewer system, the township would seek grants and loans from the United States Department of Agriculture/Rural Development (USDA) and other sources.

The company has recommended that 50% of the grinder pumps be replaced.

“Some of the grinder pump units are about 18 years old. Upgrading these units has to be taken care of,” said township supervisor Gerald Hill. “If we can get some percentage of new ones, then we will be able to rebuild some of the old ones.”

The township is aware of what can happen if this problem isn't addressed, as a resident was awarded a $160,000 settlement in a lawsuit against Clark Township in 2004.

“The pump froze, a pipe cracked, and effluent went back into the home,” Mr. Hill said.

Since there were similar issues in 1995, with minor damages, the courts ruled in favor of the homeowner, citing that the township knew of the potential problem and hadn't corrected it.

At their most recent meeting, the committee again recommended that some plan of action be implemented.

“We can't wait for four months to have things approved any longer,” said committee chair John Shoberg. “We're recommending that the board adopts a plan so that the engineer may proceed with the application process.”

The advisory committee also urged the township supervisor and at least one other board member to meet with USDA specialist Duane Reid in Gladstone, where they could get more information before applying for grants.

The advisory committee also suggested repairing a small crack in the line between settling cells 2 and 3, which will be accomplished by putting a liner inside of the pipe when the cells are drained. Although not a large problem, according to Mr. Hill, traces of sediment had found a way through the crack.