No need for sewer for Dorr BP say Greg and Rick Damveld. We can do this for $3500 instead of $46,784. NO SEWER! WE DON’T WANT IT!
Posted on September 5, 2009
Filed Under Township News
Greg and Rick Damveld of Dorr BP in downtown Dorr have no need to spend thousands of dollars for the sanitary sewer that the township board is pushing through at the objections of businesses and residents who petitioned against this mulit million dollar project. So, after the public hearing in May, Greg and Rick Damveld went to the Allegan County Health Department and got a permit to install a new drain field that could last them for the next 25 years, even though the one they have now currently works with no problem. They know that once the sewer pipes go under the road, the county has a code that states no repair permits will be issued to any new or existing structures where sewage originates, if a sewer is within 200ft. So they have decided to install a brand new one because theirs was getting old, and wanted to be sure they had one in place to get them through the next decade or so before they retire. They, like many businesses do not want to pay the huge assessment, plus the connection fee, which would run $17,684 plus the contractors fee to run the pipes from your structure to the sewer on the main trunk, which would run anywheres from $3,000- $4,000 plus pay all those quarterly fees, which would amount to $1447 per year at todays rate. Instead Greg and Rick thought it would be more feasible to install this “NEW” drain field that will cost them just $3500, including the permit, which should last them for an average of 20-25 years. This is what they are paying Duane Fifelski Excavators to do this drainfield for them. In addition to that, they will not have to pay quarterly fees which would have cost them $1447. So just the savings of those quarterly fees at todays rate of $1447 per yr. times the minimum of 20 years this “NEW” drain field should last, based on their previous drainfield, Greg and Rick figure they will save appoximately $29,000 in the next 20 years in usage fees alone, not to mention they will not pay the $17,784 for their assessment for a grand total savings in 20 years of $46,784.
But because the township board is calling this voluntary, which it is not, whoever owns BP when this “NEW” drain field fails in 20 years from now, will be forced to pay for this so called “voluntary assessment” with accrued interest on top of this, because the county may not issue any repair permits once the sewer is under the road, so this board will shaft the owners of BP down the road, if they can’t do it now. This is unethical to say the least. Having the town board do this to the very people who elect them to represent their needs, they disregard the majority of land volume owners and vote to move
ahead with this multi million dollar project which will force those who opposed this project, even after they collected enough signatures to legally stop it, to come on board under the laws of the county code, and then will be required to pay for it down the road. To ALL the people of Dorr, this is not a voluntary project at all, you are being deceived by this very disgraceful and unethical township board!
If you don't wake up, your neighborhood, like Ranchero and Litchfield could be the next neighborhood (victim) to have a multi million dollar sewer project forced upon you after this one is constructed under 142nd Ave. by more unethical maneuverings of this corrupt township board!
Work being done on a new drain field for Dorr BP to ensure it is finished before the sewer gets installed under 142nd before the Allegan County Health Department quits issuing septic permits which they have authority to do under the Allegan county health code. Dorr recinded that from their ordinance, but the county code overrides the township ordinance anyway, so the authority was and still is at the county level, and they still have that code in effect. Even if Bill Hinz, the Allegan County Health Director states right now he will not force you to hook up, he has all the legal authority to enforce this with the code that is on the books, whenever he so desires. If the sewer project needs funds to operate, the townboard can call the county and ask them to enforce this code. If the county enforces this in all the other townships and they complain, then he can enforce this code to be fair across the county. If Bill Hinz is replaced sometime down the road for whatever circumstances, the next Health Director can enforce the code on the books and everyone within 200ft. of this sewer line can be forced to comply with this county code on the books. This is why this sewer must never go under 142nd. unless those who want it get to their majority of over 51%, or the County Commissioners recind that county health code to protect those who do not want to ever connect to this sewer. But as we all know, they are playing word games to get this through for the special interest of the few, and if this proceeds, just mark my words, they will force everyone to hook up if you are within 200ft. If the government can get money, they will use all the tools at their disposal to collect as much money as they can legally steal from the taxpayers. You know that and they know that! That is why the less government we have, the better off everyone is.
