Scottville may charge homeowners for grinder pump maintenance.

SCOTTVILLE — City residents who have a sewer grinder pump on their property will most likely have to cover the expenses of maintaining the pumps for now on. The city commission is expected to pass a recommendation from the city’s infrastructure committee that changes the city’s policy.

City Manager Amy Williams said the issue affects 17 homes. “In the early 1990s the city hired a contractor to install grinder pumps to these homes, the homeowners paid for the pumps either outright or on a payment plan with the city,” Williams stated in a memo to city commissioners. “I should note that these pumps are on their private property, not located with the right of way. Since that time the city has been maintaining the pumps at our cost. In the past few years our maintenance costs for these pumps have increased significantly, many times we are fixing them for problems caused by the homeowners (flushing unacceptable items).”

City commission meets at 5:30 p.m. at city hall, 105 N. Main St.