Riverside Road resident Gerald Waite, standing far right, addresses the Chocolay Township Board during its regular meeting on Monday. Waite was one of several residents who expressed concern about aspects of a proposed Keweenaw Bay Indian Community project to expand the township’s existing sewer system. (Journal photo by Lisa Bowers)

MARQUETTE — Preliminary work to install a 5-mile sanitary sewer expansion for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community’s casino in Chocolay Township was expected to begin today, despite some residents’ concerns about the project.

The Chocolay Township Board on Monday approved two measures that will allow the sewer project to commence — voting unanimously to approve a waiver of a township ordinance that requires property owners to connect to a public sewer main when it becomes available. The other approval was for an agreement with the Michigan Department of Transportation regarding the construction, maintenance and operation of the portion of the sanitary sewer extension running along the M-28 right-of-way, including three lift stations.

Several residents of Riverside Road, where the proposed sewer expansion will start, expressed concerns about the effect the placement of the sewer lines and manholes will have on their properties, and the lack of notice given to homeowners in the affected area.

“The fact that we didn’t know about it until we had a dozen people with hard hats in my yard,” Riverside Road resident Rhonda Lewis said. “All the neighbors met last week after they saw all the people in the street and they talked to (Department of Public Works Foreman) Brad Johnson and (KBIC Realty Officer) Jason Ayers about this digging.”

Dale Freeman, who also lives on Riverside Road, said he was “amazed” to see a Mining Journal report indicating the township came to the homes of the residents on Riverside Road to make them aware of the project.

“This was all timed out perfectly to be able just to start it and not have a way to stop it, and it all had to do with you guys,” Freeman said to the board. “Has anyone on our block been notified? Not one person, nobody has got any calls, nobody has gotten any letters. That is really a sneaky business and it’s not right, that’s all I’ve got to say.”

Township Manager Jon Kangas apologized for the lack of notice for some residents, citing the lengthy process of obtaining state permits for the project.

“The timing on this, obviously as you heard during public comment, may appear to be a bit suspect,” Kangas said. “We acknowledge that. We are not perfect. We had plenty of concern during the permitting process to believe that the proposed route would actually be approved. I would call it a fairly complex project to (address) a fairly simple issue, really. It is 5 miles of public sewer extension to get to the casino, right, and you have to get there from an existing point in the system.”

Kangas said that he and Johnson received notice two weeks ago that the contractor for the project was ready to start but they were waiting on permits from MDOT and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.

“We still don’t have them in hand and the contractors are ready,” Kangas said. “The DEQ permit was going to be issued (Monday), the MDOT permit (should) be issued a week from (Monday).”

One of the steps in the permitting process was completed with board approval of the MDOT agreement, Kangas said.

The contract, which pertains to the portion of the project on M-28, requires the township, “at its sole expense,” upon project completion to “inspect, maintain, and operate the sanitary sewer,” with all future maintenance activities requiring a permit from MDOT.

Lakewood Lane resident Deborah Mulcahey expressed concern about future cost implications for the township.

“I am not opposed to the sewer,” Mulcahey said, “I am opposed to the way that the public has been given notice and I do not want the cost to be bore by the community as a whole in the future (rather than) the casino.”

Kangas said he understands residents concerns.

“There’s many different arguments on both sides, and I think that everyone here needs to understand, it’s finding the right balance,” Kangas said. “I think it’s a good project, it accomplishes the requirement that a property owner in the township needs to meet to expand what they are trying to do out there. Whether you are in favor of the casino or not, that’s what’s necessary.”