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To: Property owners of Potosi Lake Village Inc.
August 25, 2004
This letter is being drafted and distributed to all Potosi Lake Village property owners
to provide an update as to the progress to date of the proposed sanitary sewer project for Potosi Lake Village.
In the summer of 2003, the members of the Board of Directors holding office at that
time, moved to again investigate a means to provide the community with a sanitary sewer collection system, in order to eliminate
the existing “septic tanks”. It was felt that these conventional “septic” systems were starting to
fail and could potentially introduce pollutants into Potosi Lake and possibly into the groundwater that supply our wells.
Overflow from the lake, could carry pollutants downstream, which might possibly add contaminates to the environment outside
the boundaries of Potosi Lake.
In the spring of 2004, a letter was mailed to all property owners, prior to the annual
meeting, explaining, that Potosi Lake Village could possibly design and construct a wholly owned and operated sewage collection
system. This letter explained the concerns of the Board of Directors and contained a list of the most commonly asked questions
as to how such a system was going to be funded, how much it would cost each property owner for the community to own and operate
the proposed sewer collection system , and who would be required to “hook-up” to the proposed sewer collection
system . This project was placed on the “agenda” to be discussed at the annual meeting.
At the 2004 annual meeting, a presentation was given to the members present, in an attempt
to address these member’s concerns. It was explained to the members present, that the cost for such a system would have
to be funded using funds allocated by federal or state agencies. The remainder of the cost for such a project would have to
be made up from long term low interest loans. A major concern was what it would cost each property owner. The information
on the possible cost to each property owner was covered in the letter that was mailed to the membership prior to the annual
meeting. It was explained that the interest and payments for these loans would be based on the median household income for
Breton township, and that the median household income would be higher after October, 2004, which could decrease
the amount of a low interest loan , which in turn would increase the individual property owner’s costs.
During the meeting a statement was made, that we didn’t have any proof that the lake might contain contaminates, so
a motion was made and approved, to have the water tested. (Results available upon request).
Also a motion
was made and approved by the membership present, to proceed with the proposed sewer project.
Another motion
was made, and approved, for the allocation of a maximum of $2000.00 from the corporations general fund to pay for any pre-development
costs involved with the project Any Money used from this allotment was to be repaid to the corporation from any pre-developed
grants that we may receive.
In order to get the project moving and to qualify for the lower iterest rates, we needed
to form a public sewer district prior to August 24, 2004 in order to get on the “ballot” for
district approval on the November 2004 election.
To meet this deadline, district boundaries
had to be established, signatures of the registered voters within the proposed district had to be obtained, the proposed district
had to be subdivided into sub-districts with representatives assigned to head up these districts, and a hearing had to be
scheduled and approved by the Washington County judicial system.
Due to many hours of dedicated effort by concerned property owners, the necessary signatures were
obtained, the proposed district boundary lines were formed, the proposed district was divided into five (5) sub-districts,
the necessary sub-district representatives were selected and agreed to serve on the proposed board for the district and a
hearing was scheduled to gain approval by the Washington County circuit court. A notice, as required by law, was published
in the local newspaper (Washington County Independent Journal) for three consecutive weeks, prior to the hearing, stating
the legal description of the proposed district, and serving as notification to any interested parties.
(In addition to property within the Potosi Lake Village Inc. Subdivision, two properties
which lie outside of the subdivision boundary lines, were included in the proposed sewer district.)
