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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Flint City Council turns down $3.9 million offer for water pipeline
Print Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com By Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com
on May 20, 2014 at 9:00 AM, updated May 20, 2014 at 9:06 AM
FLINT, MI -- The City Council won't sign off on a plan to sell a section of water transmission pipe, but the city attorney says it won't matter unless council members come up with an alternative that will raise at least $3.9 million.
Council members voted 7-2 Monday, May 19, to deny the proposed sale of the 9 miles of pipeline to Genesee County and now have seven days to find another offer that would yield at least as much -- something council members acknowledged they don't have right now.
City Attorney Peter Bade said the council's options under state law are to approve, disapprove or take no action on the sale proposed by emergency manager Darnell Earley.
The council's disapproval means it has seven days to submit an alternative proposal to the local emergency financial assistance loan board "that would yield substantially the same financial results as the action proposed by the emergency manager," according to the state law.
Council members said they plan to discuss the issue further in a meeting already scheduled for Wednesday, May 20.
Councilman Wantwaz Davis said Earley should have given stronger consideration to leasing the pipeline section to the county, which needs it to continue receiving water from the city of Detroit during construction of the new Karegnondi Water Authority pipeline to Lake Huron.
"This pipeline is like our only last asset," said Davis. "Why are we selling it for ... for pennies?"
Daughtery Johnson, utilities administrator for the city, said there are no other potential buyers for the pipeline section, which was built more than 50 years ago as a connection to pipeline owned by the city of Detroit, which runs from the Genesee-Lapeer county line to the lake.
"We don't have a customer looking to lease it" and the city can't stop the flow of water to the county under the law, Johnson said.
County Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright has said the proposed purchase of the pipeline section is designed to put the existing infrastrucure to good use and to provide the city with cash for an asset that otherwise will serve no purpose.
Although needed by the county as a connection point to the Detroit-owned section of pipeline, the city no longer uses the pipeline because it is using the Flint River as a drinking water supply.
Council members have also discussed how proceeds of the sale should be used, but Bade has told them they have no authority to make that decision.
Councilmen Joshua Freeman and Bryant Nolden voted against the council disapproval. |
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Tue May 20, 2014 3:02 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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It appears that only Josh Freeman and Bryant Nolden have any sense. Freeman was right on when he noted that he pipeline was an asset of the Water Distribution System and therefore the money derived from the sale needed to stay within the Water Department.
I can't imagine what the other council members are thinking. Daugherty Johnson laid it out for them. They have no other buyers around and by law they can't shut it off. Council needs to remember they are members of KWA and f they increase the cost, they share in the cost increase.
City Attorney Bade let them know they have few options. They have no other way to raise $3.9 million. The residents will pay for the deteriorating water and sewer lines through water and sewer assessments.
The Council failed the test of leadership. The end result will be the EM will make the decision, approved by the state, and a return to self governance is a long way off. Detroit will remain under state observation for 20 years after their situation is resolved. Flint may be in a similar position. Bankruptcy is closer than ever and that means a Judge may control our city. |
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Tue May 20, 2014 3:20 pm |
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo
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Take Mackin Road east from Ballenger Highway and there is a series of three rapidly growing holes that seem to be threatening the integrity of the road for safe passage.
I was on East Court and turned off to see an open house. I went over a street and returned on Blanchard to go back to Court. I was astonished to see holes in the street even deeper than those on Mackin.
During the winter there was a humongous hole and water leak on W. Court before Taeckin, It took months to fix and kept most of the road covered in ice .
The infrastructure will have to be repaired. The estimate ten years ago ranged between 50 and 75 million. Some work has been completed when roads were rebuilt, but much more needs to be done.
Unfortunately federal block grant money has been diverted to other purpose like demolition of the Genesee Towers and rebuilding Smith Village. These funds can be used in some areas of the city for infrastructure. |
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Tue May 20, 2014 3:36 pm |
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