Township officials have reduced loan to $1.5 million
DOLLAR BAY -- More than 70% of homes in the Dollar Bay area have on-site sewage systems that have exceeded their expected life span by at least five years.
That's what the Western U.P. Health Department told Osceola Township in 2009 and it's the main reason officials proposed a multi-million dollar sewer project to overhaul the individual cesspools and install a community transmission main to transfer wastewater to the Portage Lake Water and Sewer Authority.
"Our concern is that there'll really be no growth with new businesses in our community unless the sewer project moves forward," says Osceola Township Trustee Bonnie Joyal.
Even with $3 million in stimulus money secured for the initial phase of the project, a bond to needed to repay the remaining $1.63 million over a 40 year loan was defeated by voters in May.
But the township discovered they could keep their money if they reworked the proposal by July first.
Jim Koskiniemi of U.P. Engineers and Architects helped them look at different materials to reduce costs.
Two community meetings were held at the Dollar Bay Schools last week and a quick poll showed a favorable majority.
"We looked at about five alternatives, lagoons or going to Tamarack,” says Koskiniemi. “The bottom line was cost."
Some residents and business owners did say they still have concerns or would like to learn more about the project.
There's still plenty of time for that.
The township will have to collect signatures from 10% of voters or about 200 people before the board can decide whether or not they'll put the issue to a second vote on the November ballot.
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