Council tables water-leasing policy; discusses Murdoch annexation and utility connection fees

The Clawson Town Council voted to table a water-leasing policy pending receipt of the finalized agreement and fee schedule with the service district. Chair summarized that Fern Creek Island Reservoir's board had approved at least 20 acre-feet to the town but said the town had not yet received the written agreement; a councilor moved to delay action until the paperwork and fee schedule were available, and the motion passed by voice vote.

Later in the meeting the Murdochs (speaker 7), introduced as guests, discussed their annexation plans and options for water and sewer connections. They said they had a verbal agreement in place but were awaiting the service district's fee schedule. Council staff and members provided figures discussed during the meeting: a 3/4-inch culinary connection was cited as $2,000, a 4-inch sewer connection as $1,400, and examples of a water-share price (used by the service district) were mentioned in the meeting in the range of $1,400—$1,800 and an example share price of about $1,500. One participant said that, under previous town practice, the town retained a pool of funds from a dissolved water-and-sewer board that could be applied to extend mains and that staff would follow up with the service district to confirm hookup feasibility and exact fees.

Murdoch representatives said they planned to start after blueprints are complete and asked about payment-plan options; councilors said culinary connections are sometimes paid upfront while secondary or sewer-share payments can be arranged. The council directed staff to follow up with the service district and to report back once the written agreement and connection feasibility details were available.