Q&A: Will You be Getting a Township Sewer Assessment Refund?

Click on the above video for a Q&A with Hartland Township Manager James Wickman discussing the refund the Township Board approved Tuesday for more than 1,000 property owners. Parts of the township affected include in the village area and several neighborhoods centrally located.

The refund is the result of a months-long investigation of a Special Assessment District set up to pay bonds for sewer improvements. The probe found the township had about $1.6 million in the fund that should have been earmarked elsewhere. Township officials have since transferred the money to the appropriate funds. In addition, a surplus of about $500,000 was discovered that officials have decided to refund a portion — about $258,000. The rest is being left to ensure the bonds are repaid.

Wickman, who was interviewed in his office Wednesday at , said officials made the move despite attorney advice against it because of the tough economic times and to help ease the burden of recent sewer rate increases.

For additional background, here are links to some of our previous stories on the issue:

Also, for more help, see the township Web site: www.hartlandtwp.com.