Canton Township adopts 5.64% average bimonthly water and sewer rate increase; board approves several road and infrastructure contracts

Canton Township’s Board of Trustees voted April 22 to adopt a resolution setting new water and sewer rates that the township says will produce an average bimonthly revenue increase of about 5.64 percent, effective May 1, 2025, and moved forward on multiple infrastructure contracts for roads, sidewalks and parks.

The board approved Resolution No. 2025-11 after a presentation from township staff explaining that the water and sewer fund budget for 2025 starts at roughly $34 million, uses about $3 million of available cash reserves to smooth the increase, and projects about 2.5 billion gallons of water sales for the coming year. Director Norwood said the resulting rate adjustment “comes out to be” about a 5–5.6% increase and gave examples: “a low user…an increase of about $3 every 2 months,” an average user about $7 every two months, and a high user about $13 every two months.

The nut graf: Township staff said the rate change reflects the fund’s cash requirements and steps to smooth future fluctuations, including using reserves and spacing capital outlays. Finance staff said some costs driving the change come from higher wholesale charges passed through by the Great Lakes Water Authority and planned investments in the township’s water and sewer infrastructure.

Staff said the township’s starting budget for the water and sewer fund is near $34 million; after removing non-cash depreciation and adding cash debt-service obligations, the cash requirement was presented as roughly $35.34 million before applying $3 million from reserves to lower the amount to be collected from ratepayers. Finance staff described basing consumption on a 10‑year historical average (about 2.5 billion gallons) and running that through the rate model to set the proposed charges. Director Trumbull said the analysis intentionally uses reserves “to help offset any rate increase to the residents” and that the township is trying to avoid large swings in user charges by timing capital spending.

Board members asked several operational and policy questions. Trustee Kate praised staff for holding increases below the GLWA pass-through increase and thanked the finance and public works teams; Trustee Michael and Trustee Tanya each similarly thanked staff and emphasized the importance of maintaining water infrastructure. The board then approved the resolution by voice vote. The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Clerk Seager and supported by Treasurer Slavens; the motion passed on a voice vote with aye responses on the record and no nay votes announced.

Beyond rates, the board approved several infrastructure contracts and purchase orders during the same meeting. Engineering staff said many of the road awards are funded in part by the township’s 1.45‑mill road funding millage approved by voters in February 2018 and by a state grant targeted to roads damaged by alkali‑silica reaction (ASR). Among actions taken:

- Award and purchase order to Audio Concrete Construction Inc. for the 2025 local road improvement program (motion language referenced a total award of $930,000; engineering staff stated the purchase order amount as $844,888). The contract includes possible extensions for 2026 and 2027 subject to performance and unit price adjustments.

- Contract and purchase order with Mark Anthony Contracting for replacement of local concrete roads affected by alkali‑silica reaction (ASR) for $3,576,393.50 including a $465,000 contingency; engineering also requested a $110,000 increase to a Spalding DeDecker purchase order for construction administration and testing services related to the work. Staff said the ASR repairs are funded primarily by a $5,000,000 state grant, with a reported surplus/shortfall of about $340,230 that Wayne County has indicated it will reimburse the township for via an intergovernmental agreement currently in process; engineering said the roads millage would cover any shortfall if the county agreement does not materialize.

- Purchase order to Rotondo Construction Inc. for sidewalk replacement in the amount of $1,992,340 for the 2025 sidewalk repair program (program areas listed by staff included several subdivisions and specific borders), using the existing contract extension.

- Award and purchase order to Ajax Paving Industries Inc. for rehabilitation of Gettys Road and Beck Road in the 2025 major road improvement program in the amount of $3,950,000; staff said milling and HMA resurfacing would occur in summer 2025 with some intersection widening and capacity improvements scheduled for 2026.

- A purchase order to Spalding DeDecker for planning and design services for Canton Leisure Services pavement capital improvement projects in the amount of $108,900 (sites listed included Freedom Park, Griffin Park, Fellows Creek, the golf course and Flanders Run Golf Course).

Staff also recommended and the board approved IT and security purchases — a three‑year managed security services contract package (Trace3 and Lumen) at a combined three‑year cost the motion listed as $313,967 plus up to $11,000 for 40 hours of professional services from Merit Network — and a purchase of ITI training room furniture not to exceed $33,000.

Why it matters: The water and sewer rate change and the contract awards affect Township operating budgets and capital plans and will be reflected in May billing and in construction planned for the 2025 season. Staff emphasized the use of reserves to moderate rate impacts; engineering emphasized state and county grants and the township road millage as primary funding sources for major road and ASR work.

Votes at a glance (motions taken April 22, 2025): - Resolution No. 2025‑11 setting water and sewer rates effective 05/01/2025 — motion by Clerk Seager; supported by Treasurer Slavens; passed by voice vote (ayes recorded, no nays announced). - Award to Audio Concrete Construction Inc. for 2025 local road improvement program — motion by Clerk Seager; supported by Treasurer Slavens; passed by voice vote. (Purchase order amounts shown in meeting materials and staff remarks differ; engineering text cited $844,888.) - Contract and PO to Mark Anthony Contracting for ASR concrete road replacement — motion by Clerk Seager; supported by Treasurer Slavens; passed by voice vote. - Purchase order to Rotondo Construction Inc. for sidewalk replacement ($1,992,340) — motion by Clerk Seager; supported by Trustee Berninski; passed by voice vote. - Award and PO to Ajax Paving Industries Inc. for Gettys Road/Beck Road ($3,950,000) — motion by Clerk Seager; supported by Trustee Ganguly; passed by voice vote. - PO to Spalding DeDecker for Leisure Services pavement CIP ($108,900) — motion by Clerk Seager; supported by Treasurer Slavens; passed by voice vote. - Managed security services contracts and Merit Network professional services — motion by Clerk Seager; supported by Trustee Ganguly; passed by voice vote. - ITI training room furniture purchase (not to exceed $33,000) — motion by Clerk Seager; supported by Trustee Berninski; passed by voice vote.

Clarifying details: staff stated the water/sewer fund used approximately $3 million of available cash reserves to reduce the 2025 cash requirement; consumption was modeled on a 10‑year historical average of about 2.5 billion gallons; the ASR program is funded primarily by a $5,000,000 state grant with a reported excess cost of roughly $340,230 that Wayne County has indicated it will reimburse (IGA pending); the township’s 1.45‑mill road funding millage passed Feb. 2018 remains a primary local funding source.

Speakers (selected, for attribution in this article): Director Norwood (presenter, engineering services), Director Trumbull (finance staff), Sarah Clay (finance staff), John Selmy (public works manager), Clerk Seager (Clerk; mover on multiple motions), Treasurer Slavens (Treasurer; frequent seconder), Trustee Kate (Trustee), Trustee Michael (Trustee), Trustee Tanya (Trustee), Supervisor Graham Hudak (Supervisor). Quotations in this article are taken from these listed speakers as recorded in the meeting transcript.

Ending: The township will implement the new rates on bills beginning May 1, 2025, and staff said construction work tied to the approved contracts is expected to proceed through the 2025 construction season with some intersection or widening work continuing into 2026. The board asked staff to continue public communications about detours and timelines for major projects.