The township board approved the usage rate hike at its Oct. 22 meeting.

Township Treasurer June Lydens said the usage rate increase will help cover a six percent rise in the treatment fee Muskegon County charges the township.

Lydens said the rate increase will raise quarterly sewer usage bills for township residents from $90 to $95.

The township board also approved the implementation of a water connection charge for customers on the township water system.

Lydens said the charge will be $50 per residential equivalent unit (REV).

Township Trustee Tim Ryan said the connection charge will help the township accumulate funds for maintenance of the system as needed.

Currently, the township’s water system, which mainly serves commercial customers, is connected to the City of Whitehall’s municipal water system which supplies the water from a well system. Township customers pay 160 percent of the rate city customers pay for water usage. The city also charges for the actually water connection.

Lydens said the township water fund did receive $75,000 to $76,000 in a water assessment fee from America’s Best Motel, 3080 Colby St., after it purchased the property from Super 8 Motel.