But on the suburban fringes, it's hard to keep up with demand for new classrooms. In the past five years, the Howell Public Schools in Livingston County has funded two new elementary schools, a new middle school, additions to two existing middle schools and two extensions to the high school cafeteria. Plans are under way to ask voters to approve another bond issue for a middle school and elementary school in the next five years. And, with a 2,000-home development on the horizon, the Howell district is getting creative. Talks are under way between the developer and district to build an elementary school at the center of the subdivision.
Sewers present another challenge.
That works fine with a low density of population. But as more people move in, the increased volume of waste puts pressure on lakes and streams, which threatens water quality. It also adds to demands for new sewer systems, a hot political topic. The South Lyon drain system, which was built in the early 1900s for farmers to dry out their fields, overflowed in February after a heavy rainstorm. It left many homes filled with three inches of water.