Residents urge Wexford County to help homeowners and businesses burdened by sharp sewer rate increases

Several residents during the Wexford County Board of Commissioners meeting pressed county leaders to step in as sewer rates climbed and repair estimates ballooned.

Mike Mix, who identified himself as a township supervisor, told the board the address ordinance debate is being conflated with electrical service but that the immediate, pressing problem is the failing sewer infrastructure. "This ordinance is about getting an address on Bacon Land — that's all it's about," Mix said, urging that any changes to the address ordinance be handled by the county board rather than the Wexford Joint Planning Commission.

Multiple residents described a crowded, contentious sewer meeting earlier in the week and rising customer bills. One resident who said they now serve on the sewer board and funding committee recounted that the county transferred management of the sewer system to townships in 2016 and that original repair estimates of about $7.5 million have since climbed to "upwards of $20 million." That speaker said the increase is pushing some homeowners, including people on fixed incomes and small-business owners, toward financial distress.

"$174 a month to flush their toilet is huge," the resident said, describing the human toll and noting attendance at the recent public meeting had swelled to include business owners who now face five-figure annual bills.

Jackie Erway of Cherry Grove Township thanked commissioners who attended the packed meeting and said the turnout included both homeowners and business owners: "This is the first time I saw so many people there last night ... the owner of the campground practically isn't knowing how she's going to handle over $20,000 a year in sewer." Erway urged the county to help search for funding.

A different resident who said they are a customer of the West Lake/Lake Mitchell Sewer Authority described a series of rate increases over many years — from quarterly payments to a monthly $24, then to $136 and most recently to $174 — and asked the board what assistance it could provide.

Board administrators and commissioners present outlined that departments are assembling budget numbers and that staff are pursuing potential state and federal funding sources, but no formal directive or new funding commitment was announced at the meeting. The county administrator said preliminary budget and insurance figures will be presented to the Finance committee next week.

Why it matters: Sewer-system repairs and large rate increases affect homeowners, renters, veterans, small businesses and local tourism-related enterprises in affected lake communities. Residents told the board that unpaid sewer charges can roll onto property tax bills and risk foreclosures for financially vulnerable households.

What’s next: Speakers said they intend to continue pressing the issue and to pursue state and federal funding; commissioners did not take a formal vote or instruct staff at this meeting to appropriate county funds for sewer repairs.