Common Infrastructure Questions for Residents

In layman’s terms, state regulations require that in a municipality, once a sewer system is available and is ready to serve, residents must connect into the system. Local ordinances determine the timing of connections and when billing begins once the system is available.

Physical connection can be delayed up to 48 months, subject to health department inspection and approval. The tap in fee must be paid at the date of service availability. Monthly Debt Retirement and Ready to Serve Fees will be billed even if not connected yet.

The current Tap Fee is $5,500 that can be paid on or before service availability and can be paid fully or the township will finance the tap fee for up to 48 months beginning on the date of service availability. Cost of septic and pump upgrades can vary with each property and are the owner responsibility.

The sewer system processes grey water only and solid waste must be held in a septic tank which will be pumped out on a scheduled basis with the pumping cost to be paid by the township sewer system.

A contracted provider will be awarded a contract for pump and haul to handle these duties.

The township will control the pumping schedule and will work with property owners to minimize the impact to property owners.

Tuscarora Township / Indian River — Cheboygan County — ~$15M
Village of Mackinaw City — Cheboygan / Emmet area — $10.5M
Boyne City — Charlevoix County — $12.8M
City of Petoskey regional service area — Emmet County — $2.93M annual sewer-system budgeted cost; capital upgrade cost not yet confirmed
Mackinac Island — Mackinac County — $78.7M
Village of Bellaire — Antrim County — $4.0M
St. James Township / Beaver Island — Charlevoix County — public sewer docs exist; cost not yet confirmed

Cottages and houses along the lake have been built over the last 100+ years and septic systems have been the dominant method of waste disposal. Melrose Township, along with most communities that border our beautiful lakes have realized that aging systems are a significant risk to ground water and lake water contamination. The Melrose Township sewer project will expand and improve on the project initially started in the early 2,000’s to prevent such contamination.

1. Dependable service
2. Accountability for service by the municipality
3. Minimized risk to septic system failures
4. Future cost of repairs and replacement of septic structures on property.

That would be determined by each property and buyer and seller. The risk of increased cost of repairing an old septic system would certainly be considered in a competitive situation.

The sewer expansion is traditionally funded through grants, donations, bond issues and loans. The Melrose project will be primarily funded through Grants and USDA loans. Repayment of debt is paid by the users through a monthly loan repayment amount determined based on the subsequent loan amount and term of the loan.

The life expectancy of a sewer connection is indefinite since the system is maintained with parts replaced on an ongoing basis. This is funded through the Ready-to-Serve fee paid on the monthly sewer bill.

Please bookmark your web browser for updated information throughout the process. Also, please provide your email address to the township office to receive email updates on a regular basis. You can register on this website for updates, and also contact any of the sewer committee members whose information is found on the Contact Page of the website.