State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Clean Water Revolving Funds:
Strategic Water Quality Initiative Fund (SWQIF).
Benzonia and Lake Townships, Benzie County: Wastewater systems replacement and management project.

NEWS AND UPDATES: The Project Timeline and Preferred Provider List.

• A Request For Qualifications was issued to solicit references and performance examples in order to create a list of Preferred Providers for design, installation and maintenance of individual and cluster type onsite systems. Statement of Qualification Resumes of Preferred Providers may be viewed here.
• Project Plan is available here
• An Initial Response was received and Appealed by Benzonia and Lake Townships. | Cover Letter
• Subsequent meetings and negotiations have resulted in approval for funding of replacement systems for individual property owners in FY2007-8.
• Whether funding can be approved, under SWQIF, for 'cluster type' small community replacement systems, has been referred to an Attorney General opinion.
• Negotiations are continuing to create a funding mechanism for 'cluster type' small community, replacement systems, as part of an overall service area wastewater management plan. If approved, such cluster onsite systems would be eligible to apply for funding in FY2008-9.
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• TIMELINE
  
  
• In Phase One, FY2007-8, approximately 23 systems will be evaluated for replacement with mounds, approximately 15 existing systems will be repaired, approximately 5 conventional tank and field systems will be replaced, and approximately 26 existing systems will be evaluated for an advanced treatment option.
• Where necessary, a site soils evaluation will be conducted before December 31 by Benzie Leelanau District Health Department. Dependent upon availability of funding, if a site evaluation is deemed necessary, the inspection fee may be waved.
• All eligible individual property owners will receive, by November 30,
  a) Notification of their option to be included in the funding proposal
  b) A Permission Request to enable HD Staff to conduct any necessary site evaluation work.
  c) Notification of the availability of Statement of Qualification Resumes of Preferred Providers for them to review and entertain contacts and Request For Quotations.
  d) Notification that their contact information will be sent to the Preferred Provider List.
• All eligible Preferred Providers will receive, by November 30,
  a) Notification of web publication of their SOQ with a request to review for accuracy.
  b) Notification of the availability of this Timeline.
• As individual property sites are identified and evaluated, if necessary, site specific information will be sent to all Preferred Providers.
  
  
• PROJECT MILESTONES
  
  
• By March 30, 2008 - each property owner to have received at least two (2) quotations for a site specific solution.
• By April 21, 2008 - each property owner will be approved for a provider.
• By May 1, 2008 - all individual property owners will have received and signed a Letter of Committment To Proceed which includes a Loan Contract contingent upon agreement to be bound by an Operations and Maintenance Clause for their site specific preferred choice.
  Issuance of thirty (30) days Notice of Public Hearing
• A June deadline for commencement is targeted but may change subject to time constraints of completing the necessary requirements for funding.
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©2007 NWMOWTF