Three Oaks Village Council updated on village wastewater discharge levels

RED ARROW HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION PROJECT TO LAST UNTIL OCTOBER

Construction on Red Arrow Highway between Main Drive and Lakeshore Road in Harbert began Aug. 15 and is expected to end Oct. 31.

Those traveling in the area should expect possible delays. Remember to reduce speeds and be alert when traveling through work zones.

According to the Berrien County Road Department’s website, the Red Arrow Highway reconstruction will include existing pavement milling, asphalt paving, drainage and structure improvements.

Lane reductions will be in place throughout the project. Motorists should expect possible delays when traveling through the work zone or seek alternative routes. One lane of traffic, in each direction, will be maintained during road reconstruction.

For further details, including a location map, please visit the county website at www.bcroad.

org. — STAFF REPORTS

Three Oaks Village Council updated on village wastewater discharge levels

APPROVES MARIJUANA GROW FACILITY APPLICATION

Water and sewer were a large part of the agenda at the Three Oaks Village Council’s Aug. 10 meeting.

Andrew Rudd of Wightman and Associates updated the council on the latest of the village wastewater discharge levels. He explained two planned samplings had already been conducted but the state had requested a third round of sampling to see if the seasonal increase in visitors impacted discharge levels.

Rudd said the third round would consist of samples from four locations in the central area of the village and would need to happen soon to capture summer visitors. The council approved spending $9751.64 for theses samples for the state.

Rudd also told the council a tour of property at the north end of the system to identify a source of high strength discharge had not revealed anything.

Plans to update the system’s Geographical Information System (GIS) will help better map the system, Rudd told the council.

The village has also received a drinking water asset management grant from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) to identify and update water service lines to comply with the state’s Lead and Copper rule. The grant program replaces lead service lines and corroded pipes.

Rudd stated the state has strict guidelines for line testing to avoid any bias, and water customers will not pay for any improvements associated with the grant.

On Faulkner’s recommendation, the council accepted a proposed agreement from Davis and Davis to act as-needed as the village’s environmental attorney. Faulkner said the Grand Rapids firm has “extensive experience” working with EGLE and its predecessor. Among its services to the village, Davis and Davis will help strengthen the sewer ordinances.

Faulkner also told the council that Wightman and Associates had recommended using cameras to televise a section of the waste system to ensure maps are correct and to identify existing connections. Councilmember Tyler Ream asked if this could also be used to identify the source of the high-strength discharge. Rudd said it may be possible.

The village council approved a marihuana grow facility application from Mellow Valley Cultivation for a Class C Growth license to operate. During a brief public hearing prior to the council vote, Peg Cullen and Ben West of Mellow Valley spoke to the council.

Cullen explained that product will be sent to retail locations via a secure transport from a separate company. In response to questions from the council, she said Mellow Valley will not use pesticides and will keep nutrients out of the village sewage system. Ream said he would like to include a sample site at the business to monitor discharge, which Cullen and West said they were agreeable to.

West said the business plans to compost plant waste and recycle as much as possible.

In the latest update of a possible purchase of the county-owned village administrative building at 21 North Elm Street, Village Manager Dan Faulkner told the council that, as instructed at the July meeting, he had contacted the School of American Music to create a formal lease agreement for the school’s use of the village building at 14 Maple Street. Faulkner said a meeting was scheduled for later in the week.

The council has not made a decision regarding the county’s offer to sell the building to the village.

In a 6-0 vote the council appointed Dennis Wojtczak to the Planning Commission.

Journeyman Distillery requested permission to close a portion of Generations Drive for its brew fest Oct. 12. The council approved the request to close from 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., contingent on approval from police chief Carl Krause. The closure will not block access to parking lots or driveways.

Krause informed the council that Oldenburg Excavating had completed work to berms at the police department firing range. He then asked permission to scrap the trailer currently used for storage at the range and to purchase a replacement secure shed.

Krause said officers need to climb in and out of the trailer and it was becoming unfeasible to continue to use. While he said he expects the trailer has very little value, as a village asset the council must approve its disposal. Other police departments that use the range have told Krause they are willing to contribute to the purchase of a new shed, which he said will hold equipment, but no firearms or ammunition.

Faulkner informed the council that a vehicle had backed into the removable patio in front of 15 North Elm and damaged it beyond repair. The council discussed altering the patios to improve visibility, but made no decision.

Faulkner also shared that the building at Watkins Park formerly used by the Lions Club is being emptied out. A representative from Lions Club International will remove any Lions property, and Faulkner said anyone who needs to claim other items should contact village hall.

BY THERESE DONNELLY