Oakland County Approves Additional Funds for Lake Neva Standpipe Repair

White Lake Supervisor Greg Baroni has confirmed that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the additional funds needed to start repairs on the standpipe in Lake Neva.

In August the Township Board approved a resolution to create a around Lake Neva in order to fund emergency repairs to a leaking dam on the lake.

The neighborhood of Lakewood Village, located just off Bogie Lake Road, surrounds Lake Neva and will bear the brunt of the special assessment. However, other homes that border the lake but are not in the neighborhood were also included because they will benefit from the repair, according to the township.

According to Baroni, the state Department of Environmental Quality inspected the standpipe and stated it cannot go through another winter freeze and thaw.

"If we are to wait on this issue, there could be serious ramifications for homeowners along Lake Neva," Clerk Terry Lilley said. Failure to repair the pipe could result in health and safety issues, township officials said.

The county was going to initially loan $150,000 to the neighborhood association to pay for the repair. That money would then be repaid through the special assessment.

However, bids received in September for the project came back higher than the initial estimate, and an additional $100,000 from the county was needed to cover the cost.

County Commissioner Jim Runestad said in September he was confident the board would vote in favor of the additional monies.

According to Baroni, the county commissioners unanimously approved the additional funds and OK'd lending $249,000 to the project.

"I really want to thank the county for everything they've done to get this project going and this standpipe repaired," Baroni said.

The Township Board, at its , approved a resolution to confirm a five-year special assessment for residents affected by the repair of the dam on Lake Neva. The board has stated its intention to come back at a later date and amend the assessments. An initial payment of about $40 will be placed on the winter tax bills of all the homes in the assessment district created by the township.

The board is expected to take up the issue again at its Oct. 18 regular meeting.