Monday, October 7, 2013

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.

For more about DWSD Update, click here.