www.tctimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19118794&BRD=2524& -
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Published on: 12/17/2007
Last Visited: 12/17/2007
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Jeff Wright">
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Jeff Wright
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Genesee County Drain Commissioner Jeffrey Wright attended the Thursday workshop.And the next step, according to Wright, is to come up with a formalized financial arrangement with the developers, who agreed to pay for it.
"Until that is done, it's all talk," Wright said.
Wright explained that the Drain Commission doesn't go to communities and try to sell them water.He said Public Act 342 allows communities to put in water systems and control them and the county is the supplier of water.
"The township makes the decisions," Wright explained.
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"Wright said a water district is set up.
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Wright said there are many options.He said the drain commission office has to review the plan but it is up to the township to decide if they want to build it.The township has the option of overseeing the project or they have the option of the county doing it.He also said maintenance could be done by the township (by creating a department of public works), or they could contract with the county for maintenance.
"It's the township's decision if they choose to get in the water business," Wright said.
He explained that a majority of the communities use the county to operate the water systems and provide maintenance.Wright also said the communities where the county does operate and maintain the water system have a lower rate charged, than the communities that do their own.He said Flint Township looked at an outside company and found that it cost three times as much.
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"I won't do that," Wright said.
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Wright said the township has the authority to do what they want.
"It's a local call," he said.He also said the township will own the water line, if it is built.
"The county can operate it but the township owns it," said Wright.
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Wright said the township would have to decide to extend water outside the water district but that would be limited by the design of the system.