By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — Annexation of an area of S.R. 17 near the hospital will be on hold for a little while longer.
The various boards of works for the city of Plymouth began the process of counting the cost of that annexation and the numbers are giving some pause to the process moving forward.
Water Superintendent Jeff Yeazel had reported to his board that in order for the city to provide water service to the area, approximately $250,000 worth of infrastructure would have to be undertaken.

Sanitary Superintendent Donnie Davidson had estimated that it would take around $47,000 for sewers.
Monday, Jim Marquardt, street superintendent, came before the Board of Works and Safety and gave them a price tag from his point of view. Statute requires that the city annex any road that abuts the annexation area. In this case, that would include Hillcrest Avenue. Marquardt said it would take at least $32,000 to bring it up to city standards.
All work would have to be completed by the city in the span of three years after the annexation.
While the Sanitary Board voted to recommend the annexation, the Water Works, Board of Public Works and Safety as well as the Common Council, all voted to look a little deeper into the exact cost of bringing the area into the city.
In other news, the city will amend the inter-government agreement with the county for work on the South Michigan Street Bridge. The city planned to run the water main through the new bridge, and as work has progressed on the structure it was discovered that the old water main for the area actually runs beneath the Yellow River. The current line was put in around the turn of the century…the 19th Century; somewhere around the 1900s, by the estimation of Yeazel.
Additional costs of moving the line will run about $32,000. The city will accept all costs for the work, with Marshall County applying for federal funding for the project that could give the city an 80-20 match, considerably lowering the cost.
• Oliver Ford in Plymouth will supply two new police cars as well as a truck for the street department having been low bidder on both.
• The city will also begin negotiation with Hughes and Associates to act as grant consultants for the city’s Economic Development Association grant.