Canton trustees approve $80,000 study of proposed sewer force main after heated debate

Canton Township trustees voted Aug. 26 to authorize a study by engineering consultant Wade Trim of options and costs related to a proposed sanitary force main being routed through the township.

The board approved a purchase order not to exceed $80,000 for the study, which will develop a basis of design for the force main, estimate costs for providing sewer service to Canton residents along the route, and evaluate the alternative of extending the township’s existing sanitary sewer mains. Supervisor (speaker 1) framed the vote as due diligence: “we have to make sure that Canton is protected and we're doing study just in Canton.”

Why it matters: Salem Township is planning a development that would rely on a force main routed through Canton. Trustees said Canton may bear environmental and infrastructure risks if the line is constructed on its land; the study is intended to clarify options for residents currently on septic and to provide the township with information it can use in negotiations with neighboring townships and with EGLE (the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy).

During more than an hour of discussion trustees and staff debated timing and cost. Trustee Tanya (speaker 6) said she opposed spending $80,000 now and pressed staff to seek cost‑sharing from Salem Township: “I don't want to spend $80,000 on a study… I expect other communities to pitch in before we spend another $80,000.” Township attorney (speaker 15) told the board there is no litigation cost estimate yet but warned litigation would “probably be more than a $100,000 in legal costs” if the township pursued a lawsuit to stop a wastewater plant. Director Norwood (speaker 10) said the communities had agreed to jointly study the basis of design and that Wade Trim would produce estimates the board could use to make decisions.

The board also discussed a separate preliminary Stantec study commissioned by Salem Township and the possible volume of effluent identified in earlier briefings; Director Norwood and other staff flagged potential flooding consequences if capacity was not addressed. Trustees ultimately approved the Wade Trim study by voice vote; the record shows one recorded nay from Trustee Tanya.

What happens next: Wade Trim will begin the basis‑of‑design work and report progress to the township. Staff said the study results will also be shared with EGLE as part of the interjurisdictional review process. The board did not adopt further restrictions or commit to any construction at this meeting.