Township seeks to avoid future sewer emergencies
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The Thomson Township board of supervisors is continuing to seek improvements for the township’s sewer system in order to prevent future emergency repairs, like the one in late July 2022 on Highway 61 in front of the Esko school.
At their meeting Thursday, Oct. 6, the board approved a project, to be completed by July 1, 2023, that will update sewer lines in the area surrounding where the emergency repairs were done in summer of 2022, to prevent a similar situation again. Township engineer Joe Jurewicz recommended the township work with Visu Sewer, of Blaine, to complete this project. Board members accepted Jurewicz’s recommendation and approved the project, which is expected to cost the township $56,150.
In other business, Jurewicz gave an update on the Randall Avenue sewer situation that also left township residents frustrated in July 2022. Residents received letters that they were in violation of the township’s sewer ordinance and that they would have to foot the bill to fix it. Jurewicz and town board members assured residents, in July, that they would get the ball rolling on the project and hire someone to start inspecting and mapping out the sewer lines so that a project could be developed.
When asked for an update on where this project stands as of Oct. 6, Jurewicz reported that the original contractor backed out and it has been a struggle to find a new one, with construction season starting to wrap up. Jurewicz told the board that he would have a better handle on this situation at the board’s next meeting.
The board scheduled a special meeting to hold an improvement hearing for residents interested in the East Riverside Road and Serenity Road project. The meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10 and residents should receive more information from the township leading up to that meeting.
Township attorney David Pritchett reported that they are continuing to run into roadblocks while attempting to obtain prosecuting authority for the township. According to Pritchett, the township has a few situations where prosecution is necessary, but they are not recognized yet as a prosecuting authority. Pritchett reported that they will continue working through the necessary steps and he would update the board on the status at future meetings.
The board held a special meeting Oct. 3 to discuss the potential sale of real estate in the township. Following a brief discussion in closed meeting, the board reopened the meeting to the public to make a motion regarding the sale of lots in the Esko Industrial Park. A motion was made by board supervisor Terry Hill to agree to the purchase of Lots 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of Block 1 and Lots 1, 6, 7, and 8 of Block 3. The motion was passed and included the board’s authorization to execute all documents up to and including the closing of the sale.
The board meets on the first and third Thursday of each month.
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No appointee yet to board
Supervisors of the Thomson Township board have not announced when they will interview their three finalists and select a new supervisor to fill the seat vacated by Jason Paulson.
