Mall Narrowly Avoids Closure Over Water, Sewer Bills

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The Orchards Mall narrowly avoided being shut down this week when its owner paid a water bill to Benton Township in the eleventh hour. Benton Township Treasurer Debbie Boothby tells WSJM News the mall as of Tuesday morning owed nearly $46,000 in water and sewer bills. It had to pay about $7,700 by the end of the day to avoid a water shutoff, which also would have resulted in the entire mall closing. The payment was made shortly before the close of business. She tells WSJM News the mall failing to pay its water and sewer bill is “nothing new for us.” Meanwhile, the possibility of tax foreclosure on the property has been eliminated for the time being. Berrien County Treasurer Bret Witkowski tells us the owner paid off the last of the mall’s 2017 property taxes on Monday. That means it won’t be foreclosed come March. However, the mall still owes the county $220,000 for 2018, and $166,000 for 2019.