New Waterline to Lake Huron at AuGres, Saginaw-Midland Merger Discussed
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A new era in tri-county cooperation for water and countywide collaboration for water, sewage and solid waste disposal may be in the future.
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More than 35 years after failure of a countywide vote to merge the Bay City water system with Saginaw-Midland line to Lake Huron at AuGres, the issue is back.
Several knowledgeable government sources confirm that talks have been quietly launched by Bay County township representatives with the Saginaw-Midland System board in a renewal of the 1971 merger proposal.
"They didn't say no," one official commented privately, referring to theSaginaw-Midland board, "but they reminded us of our mistake made in turning down the merger in 1971."
Some sources say the best course is for the City of Bay City to join with the townships either in the merger with Saginaw-Midland or in the construction of a new line and a new water intake in Lake Huron.
Meanwhile, County Executive Thomas L. Hickner reportedly is slated to meet with township representatives to discuss a possible countywide bond issue. It is believed the millage levy would be aimed at construction of a new water line to AuGres if no other solution is found, and perhaps for sewage disposal system upgrades and sewer extensions and a solid waste disposal facility.
More regional cooperation was supported recently by Margaret Ann "Ranny" Riecker, president of the Dow Foundation. Speaking at a Leadership Saginaw event, Mrs. Riecker touted the success of regionalism here, saying "don't stop now." She noted examples in the formation of Delta College, Saginaw Valley State University and the Saginaw-Midland Municipal Water Supply Corporation.
The quality of city water drawn from Saginaw Bay and treated in the Bay City plant meets all state and federal quality standards, but water from Lake Huron at Whitestone Point near AuGres is considered superior, according to Tom Paige, Williams Township supervisor.
Since the city plant needs upgrading, some local officials feel the time may be right to again look at options for a new water source, said Mr. Paige, who is chairman of the Bay County Townships Association.
The present plant, constructed for $22 million in 1979 by the county department of water and sewer, was turned over to the city for operation a few years later. John DeKam is superintendent of the plant. Some officials want to buy the plant back from the city for the joint water authority.
Several officials noted that former City Manager James Palenick stirred up township officials by raising water prices and instituting a costly "master meter" program. That dispute led to court confrontations and joint planning for other water sources, although a more cooperative environment reportedly has been fostered by present City Manager Robert Belleman.
The six townships, plus Hampton Township and the City of Essexville, consume about 60 percent of the water filtered through the city plant at 2691 N. Euclid Avenue, in Bangor Township. Bangor and Monitor Townships get their water from the Saginaw-Midland line through the Bangor-Monitor Metropolitan Water System.
While the quality of city water is acceptable, the four-foot wide intake four miles into the bay draws water that is more costly to filter. That has resulted in a $6.4 million bill for emptying and cleaning the old reservoir on State Park Drive. The reservoir is filled with residue from the filtering process and regular cleaning and maintenance of the reservoir reportedly will cost about $250,000 a year. (Please see Sept. 19, 2004 MyBayCity.com column "City Lagoon on State Park Drive Was Donated by Dow Chemical Co., in 1935.")
The city recently published a "2004 Water Quality Report" noting that "your tap water meets or surpasses all federal and state standards for quality and safety. The good news is that our treatment process removes nearly all traces of harmful contaminants."
The report, sent to all city water customers, noted that the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality recently assessed 59 public water supplies in Michigan. "MDEQ rated Bay City's source water, the Saginaw Bay, as being Highly Sensitive and Highly Susceptible to potential contaminants. Of the 59 supplies assessed, 28 (47%) had the exact same rating. It is important to understand that this rating does not indicate the presence of any actual contamination in the Saginaw Bay source, nor in the final treated water that is supplied to our customers."
The report notes the presence of minimal amounts of contaminants like fluoride, nitrate, sodium, sulfate, lead, copper and other materials that are byproducts of the disinfection process, as well as turbidity from soil runoff. (The entire report is available at www.baycitymi.org/waterreport.htm)
A recent court ruling in Lansing may quickly squelch any plan for a millage levy unless it benefits the entire county. The ruling in the case of Bolt vs. Lansing blocked a countywide millage levy because all residents would not benefit, said Mr. Paige. Since some township residents in Bay County receive their water from other sources, a legal roadblock to a tax levy for water system improvements may be erected by the court ruling.
A Bay Area Utilities Authority, formed some time ago by Williams, Frankenlust and Pinconning townships, has been joined recently by Fraser, Kawkawlin and Portsmouth townships. A long legal ad in the Bay City Democrat on June 2, 2005 was entitled "Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Bay Area Utilities Authority."
The legal ad noted that "the purpose of the authority is to acquire, own, improve, enlarge, extend and operate a water supply system, a sewage disposal system or a solid waste management system."
Mr. Paige is chairman of the Bay Area Utilities Authority, the organization of which is being financed jointly by the associated townships. Each constituent municipality is to appoint a representative by Jan. 31, 2006. Members will serve for a year or until their successors are appointed. The board will meet on the first Monday in April.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: The Bay City Jaycees (sometimes known as the Junior Chamber of Commerce) led by Bill Boutell and Charlie Curtiss, were in the forefront of the campaign for the merger with the Saginaw-Midland Water System in 1971. The proposal lost by 150 votes, which may have had more to do with the fact that a "no" vote was required to approve the measure than political opposition that surfaced on election day.)###
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