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November 27, 2005Residents raise a stink about proposed sewerProponents say system would reduce pollutionNORTHPORT - Chuck Carman has seen the solution, but he wants someone to pinpoint the problem to be remedied by a new Northport sewer system.“I’m not saying don’t spend the money, but fix real problems you have data to show exist,” said Carman, whose home lies within a proposed sewer system special assessment district. Carman is among a group of residents who oppose plans for a public sewer that would cost an estimated $11.8 million and require hookup of parcels in the village of Northport and areas of Leelanau Township north and south of the village. Proponents of the sewer say it’s necessary to reduce pollution from failing on-site septic systems and attract new businesses to Northport. Opponents contend there’s not enough proof the project would fix either of those troubles. Northport’s village council and the Leelanau Township board will hold a joint public hearing on a special assessment district at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the township fire hall. Carman wants a project moratorium until officials test to pinpoint pollution problems and bring a targeted, cost-effective solution to residents for approval. He and other citizens are exploring legal options in case their request falls on deaf ears. An ad hoc committee of village and township officials and residents started meeting three years ago to address concerns about the adequacy of existing on-site wastewater treatment systems. Officials commissioned an engineering study that cited potential health and safety risks, but opponents fault that study because it did not include testing to identify failing septic systems - a step officials contend is too costly. The village and township councils have so far approved two of five resolutions necessary to establish the sewer district. Initial, individual hookup costs are estimated between $12,000 and $15,000, plus a monthly maintenance fee between $35 and $38. The municipalities used a petition process established by state law to log votes from property owners included in the proposed special assessment district. Greg King, Northport’s administrative coordinator, said 57 percent of village petitions came back in favor, exceeding the 51 percent threshold. But Carman and other critics called for a stronger voter mandate. He said the petitions weighted votes based on acreage and never made it clear that signing at that point would be the only vote. He also plans to present signatures Tuesday from 146 property owners in the proposed sewer district who oppose the project. Carman cited extensive “lobbying” by village officials trying to convince people who hadn’t yet signed on. King said officials called citizens to ensure they received petitions and to answer questions. He said all distributed information clearly defined the petition process, which officials chose because it polled all owners and not just locally registered voters. Bill Monaghan and Heidi Ross asked the village council in August to impose a similar moratorium, but council members took no action. King said the project would hit a wall if bids early next year come in significantly over budget or if the state doesn’t come through with loan funding. But he doubts officials would support a moratorium. “We respect what the opponents have to say, but we also have to respect all of the people that support this thing,” he said. King said if village and township officials vote to accept the proposed assessment district boundaries after Tuesday’s public hearing, property owners would have 30 days beyond that to appeal to the state tax tribunal with reasons their parcel should not be included.
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