The village of Constantine is one of nearly a dozen Michigan communities to receive a loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to modernize rural drinking water and wastewater infrastructure across 28 states.
Constantine plans to use a $13.3 million loan to recommission its water treatment facility. Michigan communities are receiving a combined $32 million in loans and about $3.7 million in grants, spread over nine communities.
Constantine officials in 1997 shut down the facility, sending its sewage to Three Rivers for treatment.
The project is intended to rehabilitate or construct components of the treatment system.
The last time the village needed to upgrade their sewer they had to put up for a village wide vote. Not that it mattered. The council did an end run and sacked the outcome. Now they don’t bother to out it to a ballot vote.
Brought to you by the same people who were unable to negotiate a sewer contract for 20 years!
$13.3 million dollar LOAN for local taxpayers already forking over some of the highest sewer bills in the state. Residents get to enjoy sewer stench with increased taxes and fees! Government incompetence at its best! Did you know the village was awarded this LOAN based on an idea? That’s right, without any actual plan. In the same location where they polluted for years. Right across from their prize destination location Falcon Cove. Residents will still have to pay for the sewer pipeline maintenance. Yup, the pipeline remains hooked to Three Rivers and will still be used. Underwritten with residents’ taxpayer dollars.