Plans for a sewer system for the community of Cedar may be dead in the water.

The state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will not provide funding through its revolving fund for a proposed sewer system.

“It appears to be dead,” said Lee Bowen, chairman of the county Board of Public Works at a special Monday morning meeting. “I’m waiting to hear from (Solon Township).”

Just a week ago, the BPW approved a resolution to recommend the county Board of Commissioners support financing the project with a number of contingencies. Initially, the special assessment district for the sewer encompassed the entirety of the unincorporated village of Cedar. But the plans were later scaled back to include only those properties owned by people seeking service.

That issue was a sticking point in a letter dated March 27 from Chip Heckathorn, chief of the Revolving Loan and Operator Certification Section of the Environmental Science and Services division of the DEQ.

“The project is now substantially different from what was outlined in the project plan presented at the public hearing and adopted by Solon Township,” Heckathorn wrote. “We find the major change involving the establishment of a customized SAD based on volunteers rather than on need, despite the availability of sewer service throughout the entire village, completely unacceptable and contrary to SRF project planning requirements.”

This was a concern for BPW member Glen M. Noonan, who was told the previous week that there was no opposition to the sewer project.

Project engineer Brian Boals was in attendance at the BPW’s April 1 meeting and stated that they were “working through” some comments with the DEQ relative to the “checkerboard” scheme where those who want the system are immediately hooked up, and those that don’t have a need are left out.

As a result, funding through the Revolving Fund will not be available to the township this year. In addition, failure to complete a SRF application by Feb. 1, 2010, could require the township to repay more than $67,000 to the State of Michigan in funds awarded for project design.

“… We are returning S2 Grant Disbursement request No. 2, which includes design costs based on an unacceptable project planning document and deficient treatment design,” Heckathorn wrote in his letter.

No action was taken by the BPW this week other than noting that one of the many contingencies included in the resolution of support was securing a permit from the DEQ.

“Without a permit, they won’t have our support,” Bowen said.

Calls to township Supervisor Carl (Ron) Williams for comment were not returned.

Boals said Wednesday morning he believes the project could be delayed a bit, but he wouldn't say the state was "withdrawing funding."

"We're in a fact-finding mode…identifying properties within Cedar where the property owner didn't want to participate," he said.