Orchards Mall narrowly avoids shutdown

BERRIEN COUNTY, Mich.—Orchards Mall narrowly avoided a shutdown on Tuesday.

According to the treasurer of Benton Charter Township, the mall was set to have their water disconnected if they did not pay a $7,767.31 bill by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The treasurer added that the mall owes the township $45, 958.17 for delinquent water and sewer bills.

Orchards Mall paid a portion of its outstanding water and sewer bill at 4:20 p.m. on Tuesday and avoided being shutdown.

If there is no water supplied to the mall, the Benton Charter Building Department will have to pull the mall's Certificate of Occupancy.

Ed Moore, manager of Orchards Mall, said that the mall is contesting the cost of the bills, arguing that the mall, which has under 25% occupancy, should not have water and sewage bills at that price.