Dave Korson enjoyed the annual fishing derby at the Old Mill Pond in Northport as a child. He also enjoys it with his children, and the new grandfather hopes to enjoy it in the future with his grandson.

For that reason and others, including his position as president of the Northport Sportsman’s Club, he has taken an interest in what impact the Northport/Leelanau Township sewer system will have on Northport Creek, which flows through the pond and eventually dumps into West Grand Traverse Bay.

“Obviously, it’s an important resource,” the Leelanau Township native said. “At first, we (club members) were skeptical. One concern we have is the pond itself, whether it would remain.”

The pond is home to native brook trout.

“ So far, I haven’t heard anything different,” said Korson, adding that sediment from areas upstream (including the sewer lagoons for the now closed Leelanau Memorial Health Center) have contributed to sediment in the pond. “We’re relying on experts … people in the know. We’ve been keeping a low profile and are trusting our town fathers.”

The club has purposely stayed an arm’s length from the sewer fray, which has divided much of the Northport community for the past two years. Although construction on the $15 million project is considered “half-way” completed, the strain within the community continued to be evident at a meeting of the county Board of Public Works Tuesday.

“It’s half-way done. Now’s as good a time as any to stop it,” sewer opponent Arnold Zeits said.

He and others contend that the site of the wastewater treatment facility and the disposal of treated groundwater as planned will negatively impact the village drinking water supply and the health of Northport Creek, into which the groundwater eventually vents. The group Leelanau Forum has legally challenged the project on the basis of its compliance with state environmental law. A hearing on the lawsuit is slated for April 28 in 13th Circuit Court. A June trial date has also been set.

Earlier this month, Freshwater Futures (formerly Great Lakes Aquatic Habitat Network Fund) announced the award of a $5,500 grant to provide a groundwater modeling analysis of the proposed wastewater treatment site.

Outstanding legal issues were among the items covered in a report to the BPW by Barbara VonVoigtlander, a Northport Village Council trustee. Thirty of the 50-plus appeals originally filed to the State Tax Tribunal over the special assessment district remain. Hearing on “foundation” issues are scheduled to be held in early May. “Cost born by the community to defend the project continue to mount,” VonVoitlander’s written report stated.

Northport administrator Greg King estimated that the village legal bill to defend challenges to the project could reach $500,000, a fact resident Vina Mikesell expressed frustration over.

“Why do we still have to defend sewer construction in Northport?” she asked.

“Voters made their wishes know — not once but twice — with petitions calling for the creation of the sewer and the defeat of the recall effort.

“The ongoing acrimony and litigation continues to tear the village apart,” Mikesell said.

She attributed the high cost of the system to legal expenses incurred in fighting “lawsuit after lawsuit,” not “poor planning” or the need for additional equipment or labor.

Zeits defended those challenging the project.

“They put all the blame (for legal fees) on us,” he said. “They’re the ones who started this project.”

Work has continued on the wastewater treatment facility, which will incorporate the sewer lagoons previously used by LMHC. Buildings for mechanical equipment and an office have been completed and are secure. Trenches for the systems’ rapid infiltration basins will be completed in May. Contractors are scheduled to resume work on the collection system mid-month with a construction completion date of July 31 in sight.

Bids for operation of the sewer will be considered at a special meeting of the sewer authority set for April 10.

Meanwhile, the Sportsman’s Club is finalizing plans for the Scott Brow Memorial Fishing Derby, an annual rite of spring in the community held each year on the first day of trout season — this year April 26.