Tuesday afternoon, Worth Township Supervisor Phil Essenmacher gave an updated financing report to the Sanilac County Board of Public Works on the township’s major sewer project. Essenmacher said all indications are, once final funding is arranged, the project could get underway in the next few months. The township is seeking additional help with funding from the USDA. A decision on the grant dollars is expected by the middle of April.
The project was originally estimated to cost $23 million dollars, but has escalated to around $41 million dollars after numerous delays. While the bids are in on the project, no contracts have been signed, pending resolution of the funding issues.
Essenmacher said the township is seeking help from state and federal officials to help with the $18 million dollar financial shortfall and pointed out that as a result of all the delays, a large reason for the increased costs is the cost to actually do the job has significantly climbed since bids were first opened.
As a result of a portion of the township being classified low to moderate income, instead of costing those effected by the project more than $24,000, iot is now estimated each township property assessment in the construction zone will be $15,000 each. Essenmacher said.
Officials from HURON INC. in Lexington Township have voiced their concern over the delayed Worth Township $41 million sewer project. President and HURON INC. CEO Jerry Solar said in a letter to the township, HURON INC. needs assurances from the township they will be able to fund and complete the job as scheduled.
Solar said the plant intends to break ground on a 40,000 square foot addition later this month and will eventually increase their employee base from 461 to over 630 employees.
The company’s lagoon system would not be able to properly maintain the employee increased use, according to company officials, forcing them to connect to the new sewer system.
