Plan for Regional Water Authority Moves Forward (UPDATED)

The Detroit News reports this morning (here) that the Emergency Manager is pressing ahead with plans for the creation of a regional water authority. Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties reportedly have put up $100,000 each for the accounting firm UHY Advisors to evaluate the formation of a new authority. 

In June, 2013, the Emergency Manager endorsed the idea of creating a regional authority. This followed approval of a plan for the creation of a regional water authority by the Board of Water Commissioners on March 13, 2013. 

State Rep. Kurt Heise (R-Plymouth Township), who introduced legislation calling for a regional authority in January (HB 4009), is against the plan being considered by Orr and the current water and sewerage board. “It is my opinion as a legislator and as a municipal lawyer that the three counties do not have the authority to bind the members of the DWSD,” Heise said. He believes it would take a state law to properly create an authority.  “My model involves the communities directly in the governance,” he said. “If we’re going to have a regional system it needs to be truly regional.”

Update:  On Thursday, October 10, 2013, Rep. Heise will be a special guest at a town hall meeting in Livonia hosted by Council President Laura Toy. The meeting is to discuss water and sewer rates from DWSD and the potential for a regional water authority. The meeting will take place at the Livonia Civic Center Library, 32777 Five Mile Rd, Livonia, MI from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

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