By Mark Rosman
Staff Writer
HOWELL – At their meeting on March 7, the members of the Howell Township Council are scheduled to vote to adopt an ordinance that will reduce sewer charges for residential and commercial users.
The ordinance was introduced during the council’s Feb. 7 meeting. According to the ordinance, sewer user charges will be reduced as follows:
• Residential dwellings with kitchen facilities (single-family homes, multiple family dwelling, mobile home) will have the minimum sewer rental charge reduced from $656 to $576 per year.
• Residential dwellings without kitchen facilities (hotel, motel, boarding house, cottage, tourist cabin) will have the minimum sewer rental charge reduced from $328 to $288 per year.
• Churches, fraternal organizations, service organizations, public buildings and schools will have the minimum sewer rental charge reduced from $700 to $620 per year. A cost relating to an overage of water used in a quarter will be reduced from $9.33 to $8.27 per 1,000 gallons.
• Commercial uses (with the exception of industrial uses) will have the minimum sewer rental charge reduced from $700 to $620 per year. A cost relating to an overage of water used in a quarter will be reduced from $9.33 to $8.27 per 1,000 gallons.
• Industrial uses will have the minimum sewer rental charge reduced from $700 to $620 per year. A cost relating to an overage of water used in a quarter will be reduced from $9.33 to $8.27 per 1,000 gallons.
In other business on Feb. 7, the council passed a resolution authorizing the submission of an application to the state Department of Environmental Protection to seek funding for the acquisition of the 116-acre Pierce property on Maxim Road and the acquisition of other properties that have been identified in the township’s open space and recreation plan.
Howell is seeking $1.348 million from the state in the form of a $674,050 matching grant and a $674,050 loan. The resolution states that Howell has its matching share of the project ($674,050) if a match is required, and that in the event the state’s funds are less than the total project costs specified, the township has the balance of the funding necessary to complete the project.
Finally, the council passed a resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the state Department of Transportation for a project on Preventorium Road. No additional information regarding the scope of the project was immediately available from municipal officials.
