Proposed changes to Schoolcraft’s water service ordinance of 1989 dominated a two-hour meeting of the Village Council on April 6.
Treasurer Theresa O’Leary and Public Works Superintendent Rob Coffman explained various changes and answered questions from the Council.
A major point of discussion was the use of private wells by village residents. Some residents are hooked up to the water system but then have a private well for irrigation purposes. The question was whether private wells should be prohibited throughout the Village and not just in the restricted zones as stated in the current ordinance. Currently, there are two restricted zones, one owned by Norfolk Southern Corporation and the other by the Village.
The only exceptions allowed in those areas are for groundwater monitoring and remediation wells and for temporary wells needed during construction projects.
A proposed exception would allow the Schoolcraft Community Schools to use “their non-potable wells for irrigation.”
Council members expressed concern about the cost of requiring people to hook up to the water system. One resident at the meeting said he had looked into the cost a few years ago. It was about $10,000.
Currently, there are five properties not hooked up to the Village water system, four residential and one commercial. Due to the potential cost of hooking into the system, Trustee Kathy Mastenbrook questioned whether residents could be given an extended time for the mandatory hookups.
Trustee Joe Beck asked whether adding those five properties to the system would have an overall negative impact on the system.
Coffman said he didn’t think so and that the five properties would bring in additional revenue.
One reason for prohibiting the private wells is the concern about possible cross-contamination, explained Coffman. This could occur due to the difference in water pressure between the private well and the Village’s water system if pipes from both systems were connected.
Another issue discussed at length was the liability for repair or replacement of water meters. The proposed change in the ordinance says that if homeowners believe their meter is inaccurate, they can have the “meter tested at their expense.” If the meter is found to be defective, then the Village would pay the associated costs.
“About 99 percent of the time when a meter is malfunctioning, it’s running slow,” said O’Leary.
Other proposed changes spell out what happens if Village officials are not allowed access to the water meter. In that case, water usage would be estimated.
Proposed changes also explain when employees from the Water Department may refuse to enter a confined space. Those reasons include hazards such as atmospheric, sanitary, physical and mechanical.
Trustee Beck also questioned the proposed removal of two paragraphs in Article III of the current ordinance which says the Village should provide a sewer system to be operated by the South County Sewer and Water Authority. “This is very valid,” he said. “I hate to see it removed. We need to be looking to having a sewer system of some form.”
The next step in the approval of the changes is for the ordinance to go back to the attorneys and then be brought forth again, followed by a public hearing before a vote is taken by the Council. This is a process that could take several months, according to Village Manager Cheri Lutz.
The Council in a unanimous vote also approved revised Articles of Incorporation for the South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority (SKCFA), presented by Trustee Mastenbrook, who is also the secretary to the authority’s board. One revision names the four participating members: villages of Schoolcraft and Vicksburg, and townships of Prairie Ronde and Schoolcraft. Prior to April 1, 2026, Brady Township and Wakeshma Township were also part of the Authority. However, they have withdrawn their membership.
The revised SKCFA document also spells out how purchases and indebtedness will be handled by the Fire Authority. As revised, all municipalities in the Authority will be required to approve any purchase over $20,000 or any indebtedness over $70,000. Also, the Authority must provide written notice of the proposed purchases or indebtedness. The municipalities will then have 45 days to inform the Authority of their decision in writing.
“We want to make sure that all entities know what we are buying,” she said. “We can look at it after a year and we can change it if needed.”
Village Manager Lutz reported that Dale Smith has been hired for the part-time position at the front desk in the Village office. “We are happy to have another person in the office,” said Lutz.
