Brookfield trustees approve first phase of sewer project

BROOKFIELD -- Township trustees have approved the first phase of a resident-funded sewer project on Strimbu Drive and Wood Street.
Trustee J. Philip Schmidt said 80 percent of residents in that area must sign a petition agreeing to the project before it can go forward. A public hearing also must be conducted.
The cost has yet to be determined since the project is still in its early planning stages by the county sanitary engineer's office.
Options: Schmidt said if residents agree to the project, they have two choices of payment: to pay all at once to reduce interest costs, or payments over a 10-year period on their property tax bills.
There is talk of looking into grants to pay for the project, but Schmidt said, "That doesn't seem likely. & quot;
If everything goes well, the sewer lines could be in place within a year or two.
"We're a long way from completion of this project, but we realize this is a much-needed step in our township and we are very pleased to begin it," Schmidt said.
Those opposed to the project so far are residents who say they have just installed costly septic systems on their property and are not about to pay for a second sewage system.