HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2011.02.09 - 10516• ,
Shelley Taub, cVmmissioner
District #16
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #11029
BY: Commissioner Shelley G. Taub, District #16
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — SUPPORT FOR THE FORMATION OF c.iq INTERIM
REGIONAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE DETROIT
WATER AND SEWERAGE DEPARTMENT AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT TO ENSURE
COMPLIANCE WITH THE FEDERAL CLEAN WATER ACT
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the governance of public institutions should be based on the guiding principles of
integrity, legitimacy, fiduciary responsibility, accountability, as well as fair and equitable representation;
and
WHEREAS currently the Detroit Water Board is composed of seven members, appointed by the
Mayor of the City of Detroit, that includes four Detroit representatives and one member (appointed by the
Mayor of Detroit) each from Oakland, Wayne and Macomb Counties; and
WHEREAS the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department ("DVVSD") serves 126 suburban
communities in eight counties, with more than 75% of its 4.3 million water and sewer customers residing
outside of Detroit; and
WHEREAS, despite over 30 years of "receivership" over Detroit Wastewater Treatment Plant
("VVVVTP") and DWSD system by the federal District Court, there have been countless violations of state
and federal law, breaches of the orders of the court, breaches of contract, and abuses by the existing
governing structure; and,
WHEREAS, in 2010 the State of Michigan again issued a notice of violation of the federal Clean
Water Act to City of Detroit that will result in repairs to the DWSD VVVVTP estimated to cost the rate
payers in the City of Detroit and Suburbs between $100 Million and $200 Million; and,
WHEREAS, recent indictments of the former Detroit City Mayor Kilpatrick and former DWSD
Director Mercado, failed DWSD leadership, and failed federal oversight of the DWSD system requires
action to protect the city and suburban rate payers; and,
WHEREAS, from time-to-time, legislation has been introduced with the intent to try address the
concerns of the region; and,
WHEREAS, although legislation may be a long-term remedy for addressing a more permanent
governing structure for the DWSD system, short-term measures are necessary in order protect the
immediate interests of the region; and,
WHEREAS, in the short-term the proposal presented by the Water Resources Commissioner
recommending the formation of a Interim Regional Management Committee ("IRMC") comprised of the
Mayor of the City of Detroit (or his designee), the Public Works Commissioner of Macomb County, the
Water Resources Commissioner of Oakland County, the Wayne County Director of Department of
Environment and a person designated by the federal court, with broad powers to control, manage, and
operate the VVWTP and DWSD, should be created by the federal District Court to ensure sustained
compliance with federal Clean Water Act and other orders of federal court; and,
WHEREAS that the IRMC will provide a short term governing structure that will restore
confidence to the region, providing appropriate oversight, greater accountability, cost savings,
transparency and efficiencies for all of the rate payers within the region.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
supports the Water Resources Commissioner in his request to the federal court in the formation of a
Interim Regional Management Committee ("IRMO") comprised of the Mayor of the City of Detroit (or his
designee), the Public Works Commissioner of Macomb County, the Water Resources Commissioner of
Oakland County, the Wayne County Director of Department of Environment and a person designated by
the federal court, with powers to control, manage, and operate the VVVVTP and DWSD, to ensure
compliance with federal Clean Water Act and other orders of federal court.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT copies of this adopted resolution be forwarded to the
Governor of the State of Michigan, federal District Court Judge Sean Cox, the Mayor of the City of Detroit,
the County Executives for Wayne and Macomb Counties, Oakland County Water Resource
Commissioner, Wayne County Director of Environment, Macomb County Public Works Commissioner,
the Oakland County delegation to the state legislature, the Michigan Association of Counties, the
Michigan Municipal League and Oakland County's legislative lobbyists.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
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Resolution #11029 February 9,2011
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no
objections.