I was on the Board of Public Works when it was being considered. The BPW had a (successful) history of providing sewer service to lakes communities (the MultiLakes region) in the NW part of the county where water quality in lakes bordered by residences was threatened. These projects were funded by special assessments for the local region being served.

The Sylvan project was overtly a development facilitation. Rather than serving existing parcels, it was an ambitious effort to make city-class utilities available to a large portion of Sylvan Township abutting Chelsea (which was then a village and had municipal service of its own). The developers promised to pay for the system with special assessments on property not yet developed.

I objected strenuously to the project both because I did not see the role of the county as facilitating development and because the deal sounded fishy. But the township officials strongly supported it, including a former supervisor (now deceased). I managed to delay it for several months while a number of questions were asked. But the commissioner who represented this area made it clear that he expected the BOC to pass the bonds and serve his constituents. It passed though several other commissioners also had misgivings but ultimately gave in to the urgings of the township officials. I don’t think it fair to suggest that “the county” encouraged it by providing the wherewithal, but I hope this serves as a cautionary tale.