Another meeting is set for tonight (Thursday, Jan. 25) at 7 p.m., also in the cafeteria. Dundee Township Board members urge all township residents to attend the meeting, get information and then give their input to the board about the proposed project.

Size of Water Project
The proposal is for a rural water system, which will include Dundee, Milan and London Townships, bringing municipal water from Frenchtown Township. The entire system includes some 155 miles of roads and will cost about $37 million. This includes the cost of a water tower at Cone Road and US-23, a pressure booster station in London Township and a master meter.
The cost to individual property owners is said to be slightly more than originally projected, because the DEQ and Monroe County are requiring six-inch water lines as the minimum size as opposed to the four-inch minimum originally planned. Originally the project was to cost about $35 million.

Maps were available to show where water lines are proposed, but officials stressed that the maps were not "definite," and that input was required from citizens. Township officials need to know if residents want their areas removed or added, although those living on "key" roads with 12-inch mains proposed probably cannot be removed from the plan.

Joanna Uhl, Dundee Township Supervisor said, "You can't decide if you want this until you have all the information. This is probably a one-time chance to get this source of water."

Frenchtown Township is expanding its plant, which currently is at maximum capacity. Frenchtown Township treats water it draws from Lake Erie, using an intake jointly owned by the City of Monroe.

A decision about the London, Milan, Dundee township rural water system plan needs to be made "as soon as possible," according to officials.

Due to commitments to provide the Village of Dundee and City of Petersburg with water, the Monroe city water plant is at maximum capacity and city officials have expressed no interest in supplying water to other areas. Dundee Township residents, however, still have the option of creating water districts to obtain Monroe city water through the Village of Dundee. Residents wishing to do so must circulate their own petitions to get a water district started.

If some areas drop out of the three townships' rural water system, the costs to those who do participate will be increased.

"You'd probably want to check out both ways and see which is cheaper for you," said Mr. Brant. "You're in a pretty good position if you could get water from either source."

The rural water system planned to serve Dundee, London and Milan Townships would not include fire hydrants, and would provide water only for existing homes, with a little room for residential expansion on existing roads only. Officials cautioned that there likely would not be enough water for subdivisions or mobile home parks.

Program Outlined by Officials
Mark Brant, who represented the Monroe County Drain Commission, spoke as an expert on special assessment districts, which would be used to pay for the project if the three townships agree to go ahead with it. As former Raisinville Township Supervisor, Mr. Brant gained a lot of experience with special assessment districts and running municipal water lines through that township.

Also speaking were Robert Behrendt, of Mannik and Smith, the engineering firm designing the rural water system, and John Oyer of Tetra Tech, an engineering firm for Frenchtown Township.

"If everything progresses in a smooth and orderly fashion, you could have water in two years," said Mr. Brant.

"Right now everything is preliminary and the three boards are waiting for input from the citizens," he added.

The project is so large, it will be bid out as 10 separate $3.5 million projects. Water could flow in the entire system in spring, 2003.

Costs of Water Project
Since the size of the smallest water lines had to be increased from four to six inches, that makes the cost to homeowners somewhat more. The cost difference between the two sizes of pipe is about $5 a foot, with 479,000 feet of pipe involved, for a total price increase of about $2 million.
"At an estimated 2,600 participants, that puts the cost per house at about $13,800," said Mr. Brant.

Officially, estimates are giving the price at $13,000 to $14,000 per house to get the water lines in front of the houses.

"We may be able to negotiate with the Monroe County Road Commission to get the cost down somewhat," said Mr. Brant. He explained that the road commission has been requiring extensive ditching and other road improvements as part of these types of projects.

If the bonds are for 20 years, the highest annual payment is projected at $1,631 with the last one at $749. The average is expected to be $1,190.

If the bonds are for 25 years, the highest payment is expected to be $1,520 with the last one $599. However, more interest will be paid because the loan is for a longer period of time.

Residents have the option of paying off their special assessment all at once, if they can afford it, saving money over the long term. They also can pay the loan off early, or make extra payments.

In response to a question from the audience, some quick computations were done.

At a cost of $14,000 if financed at 7% and the bonds sold this year, over a 20 year period, a homeowner would pay at total of about $23,800; over 25 years, $26,425. At $16,000 over 25 years, the total would be $30,200.

Besides the special assessment, there are more costs involved in getting water to residents. Additional charges to individual homes are as follows.

• There will be a system development charge payable to Frenchtown Township, to help offset building the larger water plant. This may be in the $1,500 to $2,500 range and has not been decided.

• A tap fee will be required to run the service line to the right of way and install a meter, at a cost of about $900.

• Residents will have to pay a contractor to run the line to their house, at a cost of about $4 per foot.

• Regular water bills are expected to be $25 to $35 per month based on 6,000 gallons a month of use on average. There will be a base charge of about $10.25. Residents will be billed directly by Frenchtown Township.

Small bonds may be sold early in the project to get it started, and there may be partial payments required by residents; they should not expect to make a full payment until the water is on, said Mr. Brant.

Special Assessment Districts
"A special assessment district is collateral for a loan to install these water lines," said Mr. Brant. "The bonds are sold through the Michigan State Treasury Department."

The assessments are based on a "Residential Equivalent Unit," what one household uses on average. Duplexes would pay more, based on two REU's.

Farmers with land in the land preservation program called PA 116 will not have to pay the special assessment. If they want to remove their house from PA 116 and pay to get water, they can sign the petition.

Those with financial hardships and meet official poverty guidelines can be exempt, and the state will pay the assessment. When the land is sold, the state must be repaid.

The special assessment can be for 20, 25 or 30 years and will appear on the tax bill until it is paid off. A subordinate lien will be placed on the property. When the property is sold, it can be paid off, or it can be passed on to the next property owner.

If land is split into separate parcels with road frontage in the proposed areas, the property owners would have to pay special assessments on all the parcels. Mr. Brant recommended the residents to combine parcels if they don't have plans to build now, and the assessments can be put on later if the land is sold or developed. He cautioned residents to make sure that if land is combined, it can later be split into legal buildable parcels. Some land now buildable would not be buildable if split in the future, due to changing zoning regulations.

Generally speaking, if the water system will serve your parcel, you will be assessed.

How Special Assessment Districts Come About
There are two ways for a special assessment district to come about.

One way is for owners of more than 51% of the property in the district to sign a petition for a district.

The other way is for the township go decide to go ahead with it. To stop it, owners of 20% of the property in the district have to sign a petition to stop it. Then, in order to go forward, there would have to be another petition signed by owners of more than 51% of the property in favor of the project.

The state Public Act 188 provides for special assessment districts, and uses the language regarding the land ownership in voting power.

At the first public hearing after a special assessment is decided, people can add or subtract their names from the petitions.

"In any undertaking of this magnitude, there will be people who are disappointed or upset," said Mr. Brant.

Major Concerns of Residents
In addition to the cost of the project, residents asked many questions highlighting their individual concerns.

• Many were concerned about future developments, and feared that subdivisions or mobile home parks would soon follow. They felt this way, even though the engineers said that the rural water system has limited room for growth, and will be limited to existing roads only, not new ones created by subdivisions.

• Water pressure is supposed to be adequate for all household needs because of the water tower and pressure boosting station.

• The water system is to be interconnected with the Monroe city water lines for emergency purposes only, so that water use will be available while repairs are made.

• If water lines are near residents of other townships, such as Raisinville Township, intergovernmental agreements may be made to extend the lines and serve those residents. They should contact their township officials.

• Even if residents don't want to tap in, if the line goes in front of their house and is accessible by their parcel, they will be assessed.

• Old wells will not have to be abandoned, but they cannot be hooked up to the house. They can be used for yard or shop use.

• There will not be two water lines in front of any house. If the Village of Dundee is putting a line in, this plan will not apply to that road. "I guess it's a matter of who gets there first," said Mr. Brant.

• If more houses are built and customers are added, they will pay down the bonds in that special assessment district. If a special assessment is paid up front, it may be subject to a refund if more customers are added, and those paying the assessments may have their last payment eliminated, for example.

• The signatures of land owners whose land is in PA 116 don't count on petitions, because their land is not subject to the special assessment.
• The growth factor (perhaps 10%) built into the rural water system will be shared equally by all three townships, and no one township can grow faster, using up all the additional water taps.

Residents are encouraged to address their questions and concerns to their township officials.
Dundee Township Supervisor Joanna Uhl also urged all township residents to attend the township board meetings, which are held the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, at 7:30 at the township hall on Main Street.