$15 million sewer expansion begins in Tuscarora Township

INDIAN RIVER — One of the largest sewer expansion projects in Northern Michigan is officially underway in Tuscarora Township near Indian River.

A groundbreaking occurred on Aug. 8 for the $15 million project that will double the capacity at Tuscarora Township's sewage treatment plant and bring municipal water and sewer service to over 400 homes, businesses and churches in an environmentally sensitive area that runs along Burt Lake, the Indian River and the Sturgeon River in what is called the Inland Waterway.

Septic systems in the area, including some that are nearly 100 years old, were failing which spurred residents to support this project, said Tuscarora Township Trustee Janet Vance. The $15 million price tag will be covered by grants and aid from the federal government through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture through USDA Rural Development and the state via the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

A special assessment that will be paid by homeowners connecting to the new sewer and water lines will also pay for the expansion.

The water from the Inland Waterway eventually flows into Lake Huron and "that is why the federal government got so involved in this project. This wasn't just about protecting a small river or lake," noted Vance.

Township supervisor Bob Kramer said his family has owned property in the area since 1911.

"This (project) actually started with my 87-year-old uncle Dave Deibel Sr. and later his son Curtis. They started collecting signatures and petitions for sewer expansion. Eventually they got me involved," said Kramer.

Kramer said the township board of trustees made it clear that they wanted a citizen-supported project and said signatures from more than 50% of the residents were needed to move it forward.

"I, my wife and others got about 42% of the residents to sign a petition before everything stalled out," Kramer said.

Eventually they got Jim Burke, president of the Burt Lake Preservation Association, and Grenetta Thomassey, of the Tip of the Mitt Water Council, to support the project.

Kramer and his wife also formed a citizens advocacy group called CHIRP, or Citizens and Homeowners for Indian River Progress.

"We raised close to $10,000 to set up an informational website and pay for mailings," recalled Kramer. "Almost 66% of the property owners of phase one signed petitions and 61% of phase two owners ultimately signed petitions."

Kramer was elected to the township board in 2020, which established a sewer subcommittee consisting of then-township supervisor Mike Ridley, Vance and Kramer.

"Every month for years, we met with the community in a town hall meeting to answer questions. We still have those every month today," noted Kramer.

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The sewer plant expansion is already going and is expected to be completed by May of 2025. Work on laying the lines in the phase one neighborhoods will begin next week, with the first neighborhood to be worked on located north of the Indian River and west of Straits Highway including Hemlock, Prospect and Spruce streets and Gatewood Avenue.

"This is the prefect case study of a grassroots effort, with everyone working together regardless of party or politics. Public servants throughout the country should study this history. This is the way government and a small community work to achieve a very important goal. In this case, we have the largest public works protect in Northern Michigan and the largest in township history," Kramer said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com .

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: $15 million sewer expansion begins in Tuscarora Township