Birch Run

          I am sure that many of the residents of Birch Run Township have been closely following the events surrounding the City of Frankenmuth and their search for a municipal water source in Birch Run Township.  Since our September 20, 2011 Town Hall meeting in which we addressed the concerns voiced by our residents regarding the drilling for water on a piece or property located just north of the intersection of Rathbun and Gera Roads; we have eagerly awaited the final report from the company doing the water search for the City of Frankenmuth.
          On November 2, I was invited by Charlie Graham to attend the Frankenmuth Water Board meeting which was followed by a Frankenmuth City Council Work Meeting on Tuesday November 8.  These meetings were highly informative and enlightening.  The water search report was released and discussed and the basic outcome is that this potential well field will NOT be able to produce the kind of volume that the City of Frankenmuth needs on a daily basis. For Frankenmuth to utilize this well field they were looking at daily water production in the 2 to 3 million gallons per day range; the reality of the well field is in the 500,000 to 600,000 gallons per day range.  

          Faced with this fact the Water Committee recommended to the City Council that the well filed could not produce sufficient water on a daily basis and combined with the reluctance of the City Council to invest more money and effort into developing another well field the water search in Birch Run Township appears over for the City of Frankenmuth.  In order for Frankenmuth to become independent from the City of Saginaw for water, the discussion now will likely revolve around using riverbank filtration as a water source. 

          I want to thank the Frankenmuth City Council for their openness and cooperation in providing up to date and pertinent information regarding this project as well as making it possible for me to attend all relevant meetings regarding their search for water in Birch Run Township.  I am particularly thankful to Charlie Graham, Frankenmuth City Manager, for his communication and professionalism through out this entire process.  As Supervisor I remain committed to Birch Run Township and with the Township Board will stand for our community. 

Thank you,

Kurt W. Kiessling

Birch Run Township Supervisor