Clawson council tables water‑leasing policy; discusses annexation and connection fees with Murdoch guests

The Clawson Town Council voted to table a proposed water‑leasing policy until the town receives a finalized written agreement from Fern Creek Island Reservoir, a council member said during the meeting.

S1 reported that the reservoir board has approved at least 20 acre‑feet to the town but the written agreement with the town and the service district was not yet finalized. "They did approve at least 20 acre‑feet to the town of Clawson," S1 said, and council members agreed to wait to adopt a local policy until they had the formal paperwork.

During guest business the Murdochs (S8) asked about annexation and how connection fees and payment plans would work if they pursued development. Council members explained that the service district generally does not extend sewer or secondary connections outside city limits, that culinary connections are possible but subject to the district’s fee schedule, and that annexation steps remain underway.

Staff (Sean, S4) provided preliminary connection figures when asked: a 3/4‑inch culinary connection was quoted at $2,000 and a 4‑inch sewer connection at $1,400. Council members also discussed water‑share costs and possible payment plans; transcript remarks showed slight disagreement about the resulting totals (figures of about $3,400–$3,500 were cited by different speakers).

S1 said the town maintains a pool of funds left when the old area water-and-sewer board dissolved that could help pay materials to extend a main water line for outside connections. Council members agreed to follow up: S1 will check with Tracy at the service district and report back to the Murdochs about whether the blueprint and connection plan satisfy district requirements.

Next steps: The council set no immediate policy changes and the matter will return when the written agreement and the service‑district fee schedule are available.