Now that the Special Assessment District (SAD) has been approved its time to work together to get the project done and get as much funding as possible to reduce the cost for the community. The opposition to the sewer has already delayed the project by triggering a lengthy petition process in Lyon Township under PA 188. This delay has cost us all money. With time, costs of the project go up because of inflation. Also, during the last several years, there was an unprecedented amount of money for infrastructure projects from the federal government from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. We lost the opportunity to apply for this money because opposition to the project delayed approval of the SAD. Now that the SAD/project has finally been approved, most of that money is gone.
There are still some other options for public and private money, but it’s very competitive, and success will depend on all of us. The more people who let their elected state and federal representatives know that this project is important to them, the better our chances of getting outside funding for the project to reduce the cost for local property owners.
The townships have created the Gerrish Lyon Utility Authority (GLUA) to build and operate the sewer, township officials and property owners have approved the SAD, and work on the project has begun (mapping, hydrogeological testing). It’s now time to move forward rather than backward. Rather than waste more time continuing to argue about the sewer, let’s all put our energies toward making the sewer happen as quickly and affordably as possible.
Patty Dennis
Roscommon, MI
