INSIDE

INSIDE

Encore to hold open auditions Page 6-B

INSIDE

A look at the countys ties to the Civil War Page 9-A

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Local car charging stations added Page 3-B VOL. 141, NO. 24

DEXTER LEADER
75
THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011
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Water rates to rise again

By Sean Dalton
Heritage Media

Living history

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While village officials wait to see if their application for a sanitary state revolving loan fund project is approved, residents will see a sixth year of increased water and sewer rates. The rates began increasing in 2006 after a study showed that the village was not covering costs and depreciation at the Dexter Wastewater Treatment Plant with the static rates that residents were enjoying at the time. The scheduled 3 percent increase will raise water service fees accordingly: the monthly ready to serve fee will increase from $6.51 to $6.71, while the cost of water per 1,000 gallons on first meters will rise from $2.94 to $3.03 and second meter cost per 1,000 gallon will go up from $3.97 to $4.09. The monthly service fee for sewer will go from $5.63 to $5.80, while the per-1,000 gallon rate will go from $6.93 to $7.14. Village residents pay water and sewer bills every two months, so one-time fees will show up bills as $13.42 for water and $11.60 for sewer each billing period. Vicki Putala, Orchard, Hiltz & McCliments director of environmental and water resources, gave a presentation on the current need for upgrades at the villages wastewater treatment plant that will cost $3,775,000 in total for all three aspects of the project. The upgrades are necessary to be in compliance with the state Department of Environmental Qualitys National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System standards, which are a requirement for any entity that proposes to discharge waste or wastewater into Michigan surface waters. As Putala described it, the villages facility is outside of effluent limits under certain conditions, such as heavy rainwater events that cause peak flows into the Dexter WWTP. Whats happening is as flaws are going through the plant, solids are being washed through the plant because we have inadequate sludge storage, she explained. Those solids end up on the sand filters (and then they) clog the sand filters, which causes them to
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Photos by Sean Dalton

Battery B 1st Michigan Light Artillery res off the four oclock rounds on the front lawn of Gordon Hall.

First Civil War Days draws many to enjoy re-enactments

By Sean Dalton
Heritage Media

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he success of some events cant be measured by attendance or fundraising metrics, and Civil War Days at Gordon Hall is one such event. While the Dexter Area Historical Societys commemorative event raised thousands of dollars for the mortgage on Judge Samuel Dexters house, it more importantly drew people like Chelsea resident Velma Markins. Markins came with some scrap notes and the hope that she could determine if her grandfather on her fathers side of the family served in the Grand Army of the Republic during those historic days in the 19th century. His gravestone is adorned with flag insignias that have a military look to them, according to Markins best description. She knows from family Bibles and other genealogical records that he was buried in the latter part of the century. Bill McAfee and fellow Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War volunteers helped folks like Markins either begin or the take the next step on the long journey to tracking down Civil War veteran ancestry. One thing about genealogy is that its like a picture puzzle, McAfee explained. You could keep looking for missing pieces for the rest of your life. Ive been doing it since I was at least 25, and Im way past 25 now. The surname name Wiseman, that of Markins grandfather, was found in the books for the 27th Michigan. She said she will follow up on the lead for the sake of her children and grandchildren: Its nice to give your kids and your grandkids roots, and if they know that they had ancestors in the Civil War Im sure that they would appreciate history so much more. Going to places like Gettysburg would mean that much more. Despite being stymied by delays in getting the Internet connection up at Gordon Hall, McAfee and his fellows soldiered on with just their brown books containing the Michigan records until they could access the records of other states online. A lot of people here have ancestors that werent Michigan soldiers, he said. Some folks assume because they live in Michigan now that their ancestors were mustered in the same state, but thats not always the case. Sometimes the search for answers to such questions is a long time coming: I just last year found a great, great grandfather that I had been searching for over the course of 15 years. McAfee felt that he and his fellow volunteers were able to encourage people to get the interest in Civil War ancestry and genealogy in general stoked, and he looks forward to seeing return visitors next year.

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The Michigan 4th re-enactors received high praise from Civil War Days visitors for their authentic dress, as well as the authenticity of their gait and visages. I was very impressed with Gordon Hall, the Dexter community and Im impressed by this event and the efforts of Donna Fisher and her volunteers, McAfee said. Local Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War members held a Memorial Day service on Gordon Hall last month, which was many of the memberships first in-person experience with the home that the Dexter community and Dexter Area Historical Society have worked so hard to save. All around the property Civil War re-enactors brought the period to life, such as Phil and Pama Holmblade. Pama tended to her ill husband, who was gathering his strength for the four oclock muster of the Michigan 4th Infantry of the Grand Army of the Republic. During the period the military had field hospitals, usually in the middle of somebodys kitchen or bathroom, and after they did what they could they would send people back home to recuperate, Pama explained as she served Phil homemade chicken soup at their tent. Pama described the womans duties when husbands were off to war, which sounded similar to what occurred during World War II, only without Rosie the Riveter. We have to keep track of the property, try to maintain our way of life, our husbands businesses and farms so theres something left for us after the war, she explained.
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INDEX
Editorial Page 6-A Death Notices Page 10-A Calendar Sports Squall Page 3-B Page 1-C Page 1-B

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