The newly elected Ontwa Township Board wasted no time Monday in stopping the proposed $7.59 million wastewater treatment plant that divided a community.

After the new clerk Teri McNaughton, swore in new supervisor John Bossler, and trustees Leon Gilliam and Mike Mroczek, the board voted 6-1 to rescind the plan.

Cass County Register/Clerk Monica Kennedy swore in McNaughton just before noon Monday after the Cass County Board of Canvassers certified last week’s election.

The lone dissenting vote came from treasurer Meryl Christensen, who has been a supporter of the plan and survived the recall attempt.

A motion read by Trustee Jerry Marchetti, who originally voted for the plan and then changed his mind as more information was presented, said that the Michigan Planning Enabling Act required a capital improvement plan to build the project and that the township had no such plan.

Marchetti also stated that preliminary engineering and the environmental reports from Wightman & Associates of Benton Harbor were not available prior to the Feb. 10 vote.

He went on to say that the information provided contained factual errors and omissions.

The resolution noted that Ontwa Township has a contract with the City of Elkhart for the treatment of sewage through 2031 and that Elkhart had threatened to pursue legal action if the contract was broken.

After Marchetti read the lengthy resolution, McNaughton asked him to put into laymen’s terms what it meant.

“It means that the wastewater treatment plant has been completely cancelled,” he said, drawing a thunderous ovation from the standing room only crowd.

“What got us all inspired to run this recall  was the wastewater treatment plant that we felt was the wrong thing to do for a lot of reasons,” Bossler said. “We felt it was bad for the environment and it was bad for the township.”

Although the board voted to stop all work on a wastewater treatment plant with Wightman & Associates and the Cass County Board of Public Works, Bossler said that the township would still have to pay for work already completed.

In other action, the board:

• Held a moment of silence and announced funeral arrangements for former police officer Brian Robinson. Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at Halbritters Funeral Home in Niles.

The funeral service will be held Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles.

• Announced, that due to the recall election and the resignation of Jim Robinson from the Wastewater Board and the Planning Commission, that there are vacancies on many of the township boards that must be filled. They include police, wastewater, ambulance, fire, planning and zoning board of appeals.

Residents may apply for those positions by filling out an application and returning it to the township hall.

• Scheduled a special trustee meeting for 7 p.m. Wednesday. It will discuss a new proposal process for awarding of bids, a purchase order process and commission, board and committee assignments.

• Approved a test at the end of the line of its sewer system not to exceed $6,000.

• Announced that the Christmas tree lighting will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. in the lot next to Jayson’s Auto/Truck Service.

Center.