The Niles Township Board of Trustees voted to adopt a plan Monday that could establish a special assessment district to aid the Longmeadow subdivision in operation of its sewer force main.

The subdivision, which is located east of U.S. 31, just off of Niles-Buchanan Road, is comprised of 16 properties, three of which are homes.

Through the establishment of a special assessment district, the trustees would repair, replace and maintain operation of the Arlington Force Main Waste Water Collection System by fronting the costs, which could later be paid back by parcel owners.

The homeowners association of Longmeadow contacted the township with a request for establishing the district.

“They do not have any resources,” said Jim Ringler, township trustee member. “If they had any type of repair, I am not sure the homeowners association has the money at any given time to accomplish that.”

The first year’s expenses reflect the legal cost to establish the district. This is estimated to cost approximately $2,000. The cost would be split among the 16 property owners in an annual fee.

Outside of the $2,000, Ringler said he does not predict any other costs for the system in the future, barring  any repairs or malfunctions to the system.

“We really don’t anticipate any expenses who knows for how long,.Hopefully not for 20 years at least,” Ringler said. “Should there be any, the special assessment district will provide a mechanism to spread the cost over those 16 parcels.”

Any future costs to property owners would be determined annually.

Prior to the trustees vote, a public hearing took place. There were about five people in the audience. According to township documents, each property owner had received notice of the hearing via mail.

One woman in the audience questioned if there would be too much demand on the force main’s system if the property developed more homes.

Ringler said this would not be an issue.

Another man asked why the township had not foreseen the issue.

“What possesses us to do these things after the fact?” he said.

Ringler explained that a developer was responsible for the force main system initially, but a bank foreclosed on the property about seven years ago.

“It is not one of those things we initially thought would happen,” Ringler said. “This [the SAD] is a mechanism that if something comes down along the road, yeah, we are out whatever that costs, but only until it is spread back on the tax roll. It just makes sense to do it. It is the right thing to do.”

A final public hearing will be announced at a later date.

Also Monday:

• Several residents of Brandywine Shores pushed for more information on a project to establish paved roads in the neighborhood. The board of trustees had most recently been working to obtain a project cost estimate from the Berrien County Road Commission, but had run into road blocks since Louis Csokasy, the commission’s director, had resigned.

• The Township made a $20,000 budget amendment from the general fund to increase the park budget, so that a John Deere mower and equipment could be purchased.