The Port Austin Area Sewer and Water Authority (PAASWA) is asking the community for interest to expand water access through a five to six year expansion defined in an 8/28/2023 township meeting. 

If the Port Austin Township board approves this expansion, the expected cost to each home owners taxable lot is estimated to be approximately $32,000.  This amount can be paid over thirty years with interest being added to the monthly expense.

The Michigan PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS Act 188 of 1954 under section 41.723 states the township board may proceed to carry out an improvement as being requested unless written objections to the improvement are filed with the township board at or before the hearing provided by the record land owners constituting more than 20% of the total frontage upon the road, bicycle path, or sidewalk.  If this 20% objects, the board may be required to halt further progress while a petition of all land owners is created.

In addition, the Michigan TOWNSHIP AND VILLAGE PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT AND PUBLIC SERVICE ACT 116 of 1923 under section 2 of 41.412 states the following:  “If no assessment bonds for the service are outstanding, the service may be discontinued upon petition by owners of 51% of the lands.”

This petition is written to collect one name per household representing at least the 20% of the land as a message to our board and eventually the majority 51% so as to communicate low interest in this expansion and to stop PAASWA from all further work related to this expansion.