What's required in terms of permits, inspection fees and payments associated with Northport's new sewer system has been quite confusing to Northport seasonal resident Charles Funk – and he's a retired contractor with decades of experience in such matters.

“We’ve heard so much about what the permit and inspection fees are going to be on top of the cost of sewer system itself that, frankly, I just don’t understand what’s going on,” Funk told the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners during a “public comment” opportunity at the board’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday evening.

And Funk is not alone, according to District No. 4 commissioner Mary Tonneberger, who represents Northport and Leelanau Township on the county board.

“I’ve received tons of emails and phone calls from constituents who are confused,” Tonneberger said. “I think it’s been a real challenge for local officials in Northport and Leelanau Township to communicate what’s going on – a lot of it is complicated and rather technical,” Tonneberger said.

The bottom line is that residents of Northport and portions of Leelanau Township who will be on the new sewer system will be subject to a $10,500 assessment and may be charged an additional “capacity fee” of $5,850 for the system. In addition, residents are paying contractors to help hook up the new system to their homes, and that work includes a $100 permit application fee covering two inspections associated with system installation.

But that permit only includes work outside of residents’ homes, and inspections overseen by the Northport/Leelanau Township Utilities Authority.

The fact is there will be additional permit and inspection fees associated with the project that were not previously addressed by the authority. On at least 230 of the 510 properties in the sewer assessment district, additional work inside residents’ homes will require additional permits and inspections – and additional fees.

The Leelanau County Construction Code Authority – acting with the blessing of the county board – is attempting to soften the financial blow to Northport and Leelanau Township residents who will be required to pay additional permit and inspection fees for work done inside their homes as a result of the sewer project. Homes that are equipped with “grinder pumps” associated with their septic systems – at least 230 of them – may need to obtain additional electrical, plumbing and building permits that could add up to $300 more to their overall expenses.

In response, the head of the county’s Code Authority office, Bob Meyer, last week proposed that instead of adding to the financial burden of those in the sewer assessment district, the county could eliminate some red tape – and reduce some expense for residents – by offering a one-time deal on a flat $75 fee for all additional permits and inspections required inside homes.

“In my 18 years as an inspector, I must agree that it is not fair to charge so many fees for a system inspection that was described as anything but ‘voluntary’ on the part of these people,” Meyer wrote in a memorandum to county commissioners. “I cannot just ‘not inspect’ because these changes do affect several issues within the Code . . .” Meyer wrote.

Meyer explained that although the Northport/Leelanau Township Utilities Authority is responsible for inspections of the system outside residents’ homes, his department is required by law to conduct inspections inside the homes. Another wrinkle associated with Code Authority requirements is that any inspection by the county triggers an additional requirement that smoke detectors be upgraded to meet the code – another additional expense for some residents.

To meet smoke detector requirements, residents whose homes are not already equipped with “hard-wired” smoke detectors will be allowed to purchase wireless, battery-powered detectors at a cost of about $50 more – and will meet code.

“I am given to understand that there are approximately 720 connections, with at least 230 requiring a new electrical circuit to the grinder pump,” Meyer said. “Not every home will require smoke detector upgrades but if that is required, it will be done again all on the same permit; the same is true if the plumbing has to be renovated to accommodate the connection.”

Meyer said he would attempt to schedule all of the sewer connection permits on the same day each week to simplify schedules and avoid costly and unnecessary trips. He said his primary concern in proposing the new fee and inspection plan in this case was to ensure that residents all had the proper inspections and were complying with building codes enforced by his office.

The county board on Tuesday evening voted 4-2 to approve Meyer’s proposal along with a new “Sewer Connection Permit Application” and the one-time $75 fee. District No. 3 commissioner Will Bunek and District No. 7 commissioner Melinda Lautner were opposed. District No. 2 commissioner Mark Walter was absent.

Bunek said he believed the one-time $75 fee could be abused by some residents and contractors who would not be required to pay a mandatory “re-inspection fee” if their work was not found to be satisfactory during an initial inspection. Lautner said she opposed Meyer’s plan because it was a one-time proposal and should be applied to all sewer projects, including a proposed Cedar-area sewer project.

“Well, I’m glad I came to this meeting to have some of my questions answered,” Funk said Tuesday evening. He said he believed the county Code Authority’s plan to minimize costs for those in the sewer assessment district was “a good idea.”