{"id":407390,"date":"2017-01-15T10:37:31","date_gmt":"2017-01-15T08:37:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nhub.news\/?p=407390"},"modified":"2017-01-15T10:37:31","modified_gmt":"2017-01-15T08:37:31","slug":"sewer-break-that-caused-sinkhole-may-cost-michigan-100-million","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/nhub.news\/de\/2017\/01\/sewer-break-that-caused-sinkhole-may-cost-michigan-100-million\/","title":{"rendered":"Sewer break that caused sinkhole may cost Michigan $100 million"},"content":{"rendered":"

$\"NewsHub\"$ FRASER, Mich. \u2014 The cost to fix a broken sewer line that caused a football field-sized sinkhole north of Detroit is estimated at more than $78 million, Macomb County\u2019s new public works chief says.
The project\u2019s cost could rise above $100 million if more work is done to improve the rest of the sewer line, public works chief Candice Miller told Macomb County commissioners on Friday. The repairs could take about a year to complete.
\u201cThis is an enormous thing that\u2019s happening to the county,\u201d Miller said. \u201cWe\u2019re up to the challenge. We\u2019re going to get through this thing. We\u2019re going to solve this problem. And somehow we\u2019ve got to figure out how to pay for it.\u201d
The sewer collapse was discovered after homeowners heard noises Christmas Eve and noticed their house was sinking.
Officials temporarily evacuated nearly two dozen homes because water and gas service had to be shut off. Nineteen families have since been allowed to return. Three homes were condemned.
About 400,000 people in surrounding communities have been asked to take shorter showers and wash only full loads of clothing as part of a voluntary water conservation plea until a fix is completed.
Officials have not yet determined an exact cause for the sewer collapse, but said earlier this month that a 2-inch diameter hole bored through the pipe after a 1978 collapse may have allowed groundwater to move up into the line and erode the soil beneath the pipe.
Gov. Rick Snyder declared a state of emergency that could also lead to seeking money from the federal government.
Miller said the county may use bonds to help pay for the repairs.
\u201cWe\u2019re starting to talk about what we have to do from a financial standpoint here,\u201d Miller said.
\u201cWe\u2019re probably going to do a short-term bond. Maybe a long-term bond because we need some immediate cash for many of the expenses here.\u201d
Water and sewage rates may also increase.
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