By: Dean Vaglia | Macomb Chronicle | Published July 26, 2022
MACOMB TOWNSHIP — The Macomb Township Board of Trustees voted to keep its current water rate at its July 13 meeting.
Approved unanimously, the decision to maintain the rate came in light of the Great Lakes Water Authority reversing its decision to raise rates for suburban communities, and the township’s own water projects not being completed on time.
“Obviously, with the economic conditions delaying projects, it’s delaying us spending some money, so it also kind of contributed to this decision,” said Kevin Johnson, director of Macomb Township’s Department of Public Works.
The GLWA planned to increase its rates in order to cover debts incurred by Highland Park’s not paying its bills to the water authority, though intervention from the state, courts and a pledge between suburban communities to not pay the increase led to the GLWA no longer needing to raise rates.
The township’s water expenses and income were reviewed by Utility Financial Solutions, which gave the township one more year of water rates at $4.40 per 100 cubic feet of water and $4.18 per 100 cubic feet of sewage use, though the consulting firm UFS also calls for rate increases at 4.9% every year from 2024 to 2027 with a $9.5 million bond issue raised in 2025.
“I think that our residents will especially appreciate (not increasing water rates) in the current economic times when their gas prices are going up 25% and food prices have gone up 11, 12%,” Leon Drolet, township treasurer, said. “Everything is going through the roof.”
Trustee Frank Cusamno attempted to make a motion to have GLWA water bills paid “under protest and subject to review by the courts” on the grounds that the authority’s cost-of-service methodology is not accurate, though the motion was tabled until the next meeting.
Rezoning
The board unanimously approved rezoning three sections of land on July 13.
The first rezoning involved taking a strip of land along 24 Mile Road from one-family urban (R-1) to residential multiple-family low-density (R-2-L). Applicant Salvatore DiMercurio plans to build a “low-rise multiple-family residential development” in the area, according to the application.
The second and third rezonings involved rezoning agricultural land along 23 Mile and Card roads into one-family urban (R-1). Proposed by Schafer Development, the family that owns the land plans on selling off much of it while still retaining Olejnik Farms & Greenhouses at the corner of 23 Mile and Card Road.
Macomb Corners scoreboards
The board also approved purchasing six Daktronics scoreboards for baseball and softball fields at Macomb Corners park at $3,664 per board and $895 for shipping, totaling at $22,879.
The installation will be handled as a separate cost and sent out for bid upon delivery, and Parks and Recreation Director Salvatore DiCaro, Jr. plans on finding sponsors for the scoreboards.