Wednesday, May 20, 2009

2009-03-19 Water Workshop

Page 1 of 2—Water Workshop—March 19, 2009

State of Michigan

County of Shiawassee

Charter Township of Owosso

Be it known
that the Owosso Charter Township Board of Trustees held a Water Workshop on Thursday March 19, 2009 at 5:30 P.M. in the Township Board Room, at 2998 W. M 21, Owosso, Michigan 48867. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the water agreement the City of Owosso has proposed to the Township.

Call to Order: Supervisor Miller led the Pledge to the Flag.

Roll Call: Trustee Archer – Yes, Trustee Krajcovic – Yes, Supervisor Miller – Yes, Clerk Gute – Yes, Trustee Schultz – Yes. Trustee Campbell arrived at 5:38 p.m.

Other in Attendance: Attorney Lynn Bowne.

Public Comments: Opened 5:32 p.m. Closed 5:32 p.m.

Kay Lauro asked if the meeting was a public hearing or if it was a workshop for just the board members.

Water Workshop Discussions:

1.) Omit districts. The Agreement to encompass the entire Township. Rewrite Attachment A to reflect this change.
2.) To specifically state that the distribution system, appurtenances and storage currently established in the Township and any future distribution system, appurtenances and storage built in the Township shall be owned by Township.
MOU #2 - Will have a separate franchise agreement. (Need to obtain maps from the City that shows where all City infrastructure is, positioned in the Township).
3.) To be deleted.
4.) Number #4 of the MOU will be merged with number #4 of the Agreement.
5.) Omit districts and state entire, Township. (Request copies of the City Code of Ordinances and rules and regulations). Question regarding Township residents/customers purchasing meters and the City owning them. If the Township went wholesale in the future the City would own all the meters. Prorated was suggested.
6.) Omit districts. The Agreement will include the entire Township. The Franchise Agreement will also address and clarify damage costs.
7.) Omit districts to include entire Township. (Need to obtain copies of City’s Water Utility Ordinances and Water Bond Ordinances). MOU #7 and 9 will be appropriately merged to number 7 and 9 of the water agreement. Per MOU what is the cost of inspections and how often are inspections required if existing wells are retained? Who does inspections?
8.) Eliminate.
9.) Need copies of Michigan State Plumbing Code and the DEQ Rules.
Page 1 of 2—Water Workshop—March 19, 2009
10.) Number 10 of the MOU will be merged with number 10 of the Agreement.
11.) Acceptable.
12.) To be rewritten for better clarification. Concern with how the Township would guard against contamination if the City is managing the system. How would the Township even know? Why would Township be responsible? Concern where it states: If “the Township fails to timely act to isolate said contamination the City shall have right to shut off and terminate service.”
13.) Acceptable.
14.) Eliminate. Also eliminate any portion that addresses this in #14 in the MOU.
15.) Eliminate. This is a repeat.
16.) Consider 50 years. To include automatic renewals. Problem with D. unless it specifically stated that “only the Township could decide to go wholesale.” Concern was the City could make the Township go wholesale before the Township was ready. Should it be necessary to make minor changes to the Agreement prior to a renewal discussions need to start 3 to 5 years prior to the expiration of the Agreement. The reason for this is due to expiration of Board terms.
17.) Acceptable.
18.) Meaning is not clear unless City expects to own Township system.
19.) Eliminate.
20.) The consensus of the audience participants and a majority of the board was that double rates would not be acceptable. A final determination regarding #20 of the Agreement and #20 of the MOU was not reached due to meeting time constraints.

The workshop was closed at this time and will reconvene on Tuesday March 24th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Public Comments: Opened at 7:30 p.m. - Closed at 7:35 p.m.

Adjournment: Moved Clerk Gute, Second Trustee Schultz to adjourn at 7:38 p.m. Ayes: All. Nayes: None.

Respectfully Submitted,



Judy K. Gute
Owosso Charter Township, clerk



Danny C. Miller
Owosso Charter Township, supervisor


These minutes were approved as printed as corrected on this the ________day

of_______________, 2010.

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