The Van Buren Board of Trustees Tuesday adopted a resolution which they had previously discussed in a public hearing at their Apr. 1 Board of Trustees meeting.
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The resolution, which approves the township's Drinking Water Revolving Fund project plan will be submitted to the Michigan Dept. of Environmental Quality.
Dept. of Public Works director Todd Knepper explained that the Drinking Water Revolving Fund is a low interest loan program offered through the State of Michigan and that a drinking water improvement plan has been developed.
"The needs and problems addressed by this project are sufficient water pressure in the system, balance in the daily fluctuations of use, system redundancy, improving water quality and additional source connection to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department," Knepper said.
Those potential problems were all identified as early as the 2004 Water System Master Plan and again in the 2006 update.
However, project alternatives are to take no action, find regional alternatives that would involve neighboring communities for larger projects or to utilize existing optimum performance of existing facilities.
The alternative selected for the township's project was the optimum performance of existing facilities by constructing a water tower, loop dead- end water mains and replace undersized water mains add additional connections to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.
Some of the proposed improvements include looping water mains and an additional connection to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department in the northwest corner of the township.
Along Tyler Road, there would be an extension of a water main from east of the Township Hall to Beck Road.
This would loop two dead end water mains as well as give the township a water main connection to the water tower.
The proposal also includes replacing existing water mains with larger water mains in the North Shore Drive, Denton and Stanley Road areas.
The project also would loop dead ends and run a new water main under Belleville Lake.
"The capital cost of the project alternative is a water tower ($4,982,000), a meter pit and connection ($683,000,) an Ecorse Road water main ($1,068,000), a Tyler Road water main ($710,000), a Bemis road water main ($3,116,000)," Knepper said.
"and a water main crossing Belleville Lake ($447,000) and the North Shore, Denton, Stanley Road water main replacement ($769,000) for a project total of $11,775,000."
Projected financing for the Drinking Water Revolving Fund is a 20- year low interest loan.
"Existing funds and revenue from a voted tax millage, to expire in 2009, will be sufficient to make the project's loan payments over the next 20 years," Supervisor Cindy King said at the April 1 public hearing.
"Our application has to be in by May 1 to hope to start in 2009 if we're approved for the funds," Knepper said.
Also at the meeting, Department of Parks and Recreation presented a proposal for the Sat., June 28 fireworks show to be held at the Beck Road ball fields.
The rain out date with be Sunday, June 29.
"Zambelli Fireworks said they will have 10,000 plus shots," he said.
"This will be an incredible show."
Supervisor King quickly tallied up the difference in shots between last year's show.
"That's 1,185 more shots than last year," she happily said referring of 2007's incredible fireworks display.
Earlier at the meeting, Director of Public Safety Gerald Champagne and Clerk Joannie Payne awarded several long time Van Buren Township employees with service awards.
Honored were Jeff Osborne, a water worker III employee for 20 years of service.
"You've probably seen Jeff reading your meters," King said.
Fire Inspector Anthony Carver was honored for five years of service to the township.
Acknowledged for their five years of service were firefighter David Champagne, police officer Mike Long, public safety dispatcher Kathleen Jensen and firefighters Curtis Lunsford and Ken Landstrom.
The Emergency Telecommunications Service Commission also honored Jensen for her commitment and performance of her duties.
Also at the meeting, Valerie Bonner, members and students of S.A.F.E. (Students Advocating Future Empowerment) were thanked by the board for their work and April was proclaimed Alcohol Awareness Month in Van Buren Twp.
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