Dundee Township Board members urged all township residents to attend the meetings, get information, and then give their input to the board about the proposed project, which would bring in water from Frenchtown Township. The residents' input about the proposed water system is critical.

"We expect to make a decision whether to go ahead with the project at our February 27 meeting," said Dundee Township Supervisor Joanna Uhl at the Thursday, Jan. 25 meeting.
Dundee Township Board meets the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Township Hall on Main Street. The next meeting is Tuesday, Feb. 6.

Although officials have outlined this plan to include most of the township, Dundee Township residents are still eligible to create their own water districts to get water from the Village of Dundee, using Monroe city water which is coming down M-50. Township officials have information about peti

tion language available. This option may be much cheaper for many residents.
The following is a brief recap of the Frenchtown rural water system proposal.

Size of Water Project
The proposal is for a rural water system, to 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.

Maps show where water lines are proposed, but the maps are not "definite," and input is 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.

Frenchtown Township is expanding its plant, which is at maximum capacity. Frenchtown Township treats water it draws from Lake Erie. A decision about the London, Milan, Dundee township rural water system plan needs to be made "as soon as possible," according to officials.

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. 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.

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
"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.

If the bonds are for 20 years at 7% annual interest, the highest annual payment is projected at $1,631 with the last one at $749. The average is expected to be $1,190. Over a 20-year period, that's about $23,800.

If the bonds are for 25 years, the highest payment is expected to be $1,520 with the last one $599, for a total of $26,425. At $16,000 over 25 years, the total would be $30,200. These figures do not include the additional costs, outlined below.

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.
Additional Costs

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.

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."

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 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, the assessment 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 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.

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

• 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.

• If more houses are built and customers are added, they will pay down the bonds in that special assessment district.

• 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,.

Residents are encouraged to address their questions and concerns to their township officials.