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MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION # 16143
BY: Commissioner Shelley Taub, District #12
IN RE: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — OBJECTION TO THE CUSTOMERS OF THE GREAT LAKES
WATER AUTHORITY ASSUMING ARREAGES OWED BY THE CITY OF HIGHLAND PARK AND
REQUESTING INTERCESSION BY STATE OFFICIALS
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the City of Highland Park owes the Great Lakes Water Authority more than $30 million in
unpaid water and sewer bills; and
WHEREAS the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) was awarded more than a $19 million in a judgment
from the Wayne County Circuit Court against the City of Highland Park in 2015; and
WHEREAS the judgment is being appealed and the application of the judgment levy on the property tax
rolls has been stayed; and
WHEREAS the GLWA estimates that Highland Park's failure to pay sewer bills will result in an average
increase of 3.2% in sewer rates billed to the customers of the GLWA; and
WHEREAS the GLWA Board has written to Governor Snyder requesting his personal involvement and
intercession in resolving this matter and providing relief to the customers of the GLWA who are being
unfairly asked to assume these debts; and
WHEREAS the State of Michigan requested that Detroit supply water to Highland Park on what was
supposed to be a temporary basis in November 2012; and
WHEREAS since that time, the GLWA was created and has been required to take on the debts of the
Detroit Water and Sewer Department; and
WHEREAS the City of Highland Park has been under state supervision since Governor Snyder declared
a state of financial emergency in the City in April, 2014; and
WHEREAS the Governor has personally intervened in the successful resolution of numerous local
financial emergencies, taking action and utilizing state financial resources when necessary to bring about
a positive resolution to the situation.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners object to the
customers of the Great Lakes Water Authority assuming the debts and arrearages of the City of Highland
Park through increased sewer bills.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners formally requests
Governor Snyder to intercede in this matter and assist in bringing about a fair and equitable settlement of
Highland Park's arrearages to the GLWA.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Oakland is directed to submit a copy of this
resolution to the Board's legislative lobbyists, the Office of the Governor, Senate Majority Leader, Senate
Minority Leader, Speaker of the House, House Minority Leader, members of the Senate Appropriations
Committee, members of the House Appropriations Committee and the Oakland County delegation to the
Michigan Legislature.
Chairperson, I move the adoption of the foregoing Resolution.
Commissioner SheNey Taub
District #12
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Resolution #16143 May 18, 2016
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no
objections.