Silver Creek Township Supervisor Bill Saunders directed the filing of a lawsuit to stop White Pines Mobile Home Park owner Joel Reinoehl of Sturgis from discharging raw sewage into a pond behind the park on M-152.

The action originated with a citizen complaint.

Saunders said the township obtained reports from Van Buren/Cass County Health Department that Public Health Sanitarian Brian R. Lint cited the owner and gave 30 days for correction, but no action has taken place.

Lint issued a warning that “untreated or inadequately treated human wastes can promote transmission of amebiasis, cholera, encephalitis, meningitis, hepatitis, poliomyelitis, salmonellosis, shigellosis and typhoid fever.”

Silver Creek wants sewage pumped and hauled to a treatment plant until a safe, approved system is installed and seeks a preliminary injunction in Cass County Circuit Court.

“We’ll be going to court July 2,” Saunders said.

Saunders said many municipalities have complained of a May Michigan Supreme Court decision attaching liability to townships for not enforcing environmental regulations for sanitary sewage disposal.

However, he embraces the opportunity to take action to protect neighbors and wetlands and feels citizens should be warned of this health hazard “which shouldn’t be happening.”

Saunders said Silver Creek’s board discussed the issue at its June meeting.