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MANCELONA - The Water and Sewer Authority is making a move up the road.

After months of deliberation, the MAWSA board decided to sign a lease to move to the township building as long as the township agrees to a 90-day opt out clause.

MAWSA will occupy the northeast corner of the building, including a reception area, two offices, a bathroom and a small counter area with a sink. The authority will be able to use the large room for meetings of the board.

A few other options were looked at, the most recent being a space available next to National City Bank at 107 E. State St. The location, with approximately 1,220 square feet of space is more centrally located and cheaper than the township building at $650 per month.

Village President and member of the MAWSA Board Robert Wilcox thought the State Street option should be further looked at and was the sole dissenter in the vote for the township building.

"If we're going to operate as a business, we need to look at the best bargain there is," Wilcox said. "Mancelona Township has everything to offer us, but (at the other location) you're looking at a great savings to us."

Some concerns about the new option were no meeting room and limited parking. And with the board discussing the issue for six months and at the last several meetings, there was a feeling amongst many on the board that it was time to make a decision.

"As much as I'd like to see it in town, I'd really like to put it to rest," Board Member Cecil Puckett said.

Being close to town is a concern to some citizens, who find it easy to walk to pay their water and sewer bills at MAWSA's current location at the Community Resource Center close to downtown.

The township building is almost one mile from the intersection of US-131 and State Street.

Joe Omness, who owns the space next to the bank on State Street, thought the board did not consider other options enough.

"It's frustrating," Omness said. "I think they should subjectively look at all the options. A good portion of downtown Mancelona is vacant right now. Why would they go two miles outside of town for twice as much money and half as much space? I think it was railroaded through."

Dan Robinson spoke during public comment to the board. He was concerned that by choosing a more expensive option, the rates may be raised.

"As somebody that pays three water bills and probably will pay three sewer bills, this kind of bothers me," Robinson said. "You need to be more fiscally responsible with my money."

MAWSA Chair William Koenig responded to the comment.

"I see how it would appear we rushed into this decision," he said. "We've been discussing this for six months and at the last four meetings."

In other news, MAWSA is looking to fill a position for water superintendent and interviewed a candidate at the Jan. 9 meeting. Bruce Aittama is the superintendent of public works in Marion, Michigan, where he's worked since 1987.

He reviewed some of his experiences working on water projects and went over his qualifications with the board. Aittama said this area interests him because he's a winter enthusiast.

Koenig said it will be several weeks before they make a decision on who will fill the position.

There was also a lengthy discussion regarding a request by Joe McFarlane, project manager for Great Lakes Contracting, to waive a 10 percent fee for retainage on store material and a 10 percent fee for retainage of an untested pipe.

Both fees were in the contract signed with Gourdie Fraser, and Project Manager Craig Goodrich advised the board deny the request as the fees were clearly stated in the contract.

But McFarlane told the board that this is a special circumstance because of the way the market and economy are bouncing around and said many other contracts don't have the fee on store materials.

"We had to take all the materials, or the price got crazy," McFarlane said. "The whole economy is turned upside down."

The board decided to table the issue until a special meeting Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. where Goodrich could come discuss the issue and his advice to reject McFarlane's request.

MAWSA will hold its annual meeting Feb. 5 at 7 p.m.

Hadley Robinson can be reached at hrobinson@michigannewspapers.com or by calling 231-533-8523.