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BEMIDJI 鈥� Northern Township and the city of Bemidji are now one step closer to an agreement regarding the extension of water and sewer services after a joint meeting Tuesday night.

Over the last year, both government units had been approached by Ruttger鈥檚 Birchmont Lodge wanting to connect to the water and sewer services provided by the city, along with interest to connect water services to Lake Bemidji State Park.

Following a Jan. 4 joint meeting with the
board and members of the Greater Bemidji Area Joint Planning Board, the Bemidji City Council drafted six counter proposals for annexation in response to the township鈥檚 general disapproval of strict annexation.

The options included the following:

1. The city extends municipal water and sewer to Ruttger鈥檚 through the Birchmont Beach Court roadway, including immediate annexation of all parcels. The city would be responsible for all professional services, engineering, bidding, construction and maintenance of public infrastructure. A connection fee for property owners excluding Ruttger鈥檚 would be $12,000.
2. The city extends services to Ruttger鈥檚 through Birchmont Beach Court roadway with annexation upon connection. Similar city responsibility of services and maintenance with the same $12,000 connection fee.
3. The city extends services to Ruttger鈥檚 by avoiding Birchmont Beach Court roadway with an immediate 鈥渇lag lot annexation,鈥� meaning the city will annex the County State Aid Highway21 roadway and Ruttger鈥檚 property itself. The city will establish a connection fee for Ruttger鈥檚.
4. Ruttger鈥檚 constructs a private sanitary sewer force main system along County State Aid Highway 21 to the Northwoods Landing. The city allows this connection and requires an immediate 鈥渇lag lot annexation鈥� like in option three.
5. Northern Township constructs its own public water and sewer main system from Northwoods to Ruttger鈥檚 through Birchmont Beach Court. The township would be responsible for all professional services, design, engineering, bidding, financing, construction, ownership and maintenance of the public infrastructure including fire hydrants, lift stations, etc. The city would provide water and sewer and allow connection of the township water/sanitary sewer mains at Northwoods and establish a fee system for township residents鈥� water and sewer.
6. Northern Township contributes $1.5 million to the Greater Bemidji Area JPB to create a grant program providing up to $15,000 to each property owner to upgrade their individual system to current standards.

City Manager Nate Mathews presented these options at a second joint meeting on Jan. 11 , which also allowed for public comment.

The township board seemingly took favor to option five at that meeting and revealed on Tuesday that they now plan to take this matter to the state legislature.

鈥淥ption five is on the table and that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e moving toward right now,鈥� township board member Jess Frenzel said.

Regarding meetings with the Department of Natural Resources, county administrators and Ruttger鈥檚, Frenzel detailed support from each entity in extending water and sewer services through a system the township would construct.

District 5A Rep. Matt Bliss, R-Pennington, also met with the township board agreeing to create a bonding request for the current legislative session with hopes to present it within the next week.

To strengthen their case of offering services without strict annexation and gain state support for it, Bliss also encouraged the township to attain letters of support from constituents including the city of Bemidji.

Highlighting the 鈥渄evil in the details,鈥� Mayor Jorge Prince spoke in favor of a more general letter of support that wouldn鈥檛 address many of the details that have yet to be ironed out.

鈥淲hen you say, 鈥榗an you write a letter of support,' the devil is in the details and we don鈥檛 have all of those details," Prince said. "At some point, there could very well be friction if the cost comes back in a way that is unfair or unduly burdens our citizens."

Ward 4 Councilmember Emelie Rivera also supported a general letter of support and give time to figure out the specific parameters of the project.

鈥淲e have a commitment. I would support the city getting behind this project. I don鈥檛 want to condition support on all the future stuff because we don鈥檛 know all of that yet,鈥� Rivera said. 鈥淚 want to get behind this, and if this is what it takes, then let鈥檚 do it.鈥�

Annual maintenance costs, connection fees and general operations between the township and city are topics that both entities will continue to flesh out for future discussion.

At its Feb. 7 board meeting, the city council is expected to review a drafted letter from the township for approval, after which lobbying efforts will take place.

Taking from previous lobbying experience, City Manager Nate Mathews emphasized preparation of answering the question of why the state should give the township money when the city is offering to extend services through annexation.

鈥淲e can give a letter of support for a project to build your own system, but the state has resources and the project has to be of state significance,鈥� Mathews said.

If the bonding request isn鈥檛 approved, the township would seek separate financing through the rural development sector of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.