County considering buying into waste water lift station.

County considering buying into waste water lift station.

LUDINGTON — The Mason County Board of Commissioners is considering the county buying into a significant lift station that pumps waste water back to the Ludington Waste Water Treatment plant from Scottville, Amber Township, and West Shore Community College. Presently, Lift Station 1, located between Meyers Road and US 31 southbound on-ramp, is owned by City of Scottville and Amber Township. Due to upgrades at the waste water plant, the lift station is in need of replacement, which is $962,000. Original estimates for the project were closer to $500,000.

Because the county owns 26.71% of the US 10 sewer trunk link between Meyers Road and the Scottville city limits, the county is requesting to buy into the lift station, 26.71%, as well. The request is being recommended by the county’s finance, personnel and rules committee.

The county’s buy-in into the station would mean a reduction in financial burden to Scottville and Amber Townships. Scottville Mayor Bruce Krieger said Scottville would have to borrow the funds to pay for its portion and could face increasing sewer and water rates. The county’s investment in the lift station would reduce that burden, Krieger said.

The City of Scottville is also looking at ways to reduce its waste water costs. For several years, there has been a high volume of infiltration of rain water from the city that enters into the waste water system. It has been suspected that much of this is centralized from a few sites that enter into the sewer system instead of storm drains.

City Manager Courtney Magaluk said Scottville is likely spending a high amount of money per year treating rainwater that doesn’t belong in the system.

The county board of commissioners meets at 9 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 10, at the Mason County Courthouse, 304 E. Ludington Ave.

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