HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2003.12.11 - 27088December 11, 2003
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTION #03346
By: Planning and Building Committee, Charles E. Palmer, Chairperson
IN RE: DRAIN COMMISSIONER - DETROIT WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT
To: The Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS, the City of Detroit through its Water and Sewerage
Department (DWSD) supplies water and wastewater services to much of
suburban southeast Michigan; and
WHEREAS, the proficient and efficient provision of service by DWSD
is essential to the health and welfare of the citizens of southeast
Michigan; and
WHEREAS, DWSD as a regional system must be accountable to the
regional suburban customers; and
WHEREAS, Suburban communities have been paying ever increasing
water and sewer bills for several years; and
WHEREAS, the current process for setting and determination of rates
for water and sewer services has caused continued frustration among
suburban customers because of the inability to determine with specificity
the reasons for rate hikes; and
WHEREAS, the Oakland County Drain Commissioner engaged a consultant
to assist him in finding a solution to critical rate questions; and
WHEREAS, the consultant's report suggests that DWSD has been
overcharging its suburban customers by several million dollars; and
WHEREAS, the rate formulation process must begin at such time as to
allow stakeholders to engage in meaningful review and evaluation and make
constructive suggestions; and
WHEREAS, there needs to be an evaluation process of DWSD's
operations conducted in a public forum to provide assurances that DWSD is
operated efficiently and cost effectively; and
WHEREAS, the Detroit City Council must clarify the role of the
Detroit Water Board to provide the leadership necessary to ensure equity
along with full and fair disclosure;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners hereby requests that the Mayor of Detroit and the Detroit
City Council clarify the role of the Detroit Water Board; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners hereby requests that the Mayor of Detroit and the Detroit
City Council take the necessary action to have the rate formulation
process begin earlier to allow sufficient time for stakeholders to
conscientiously evaluate proposals and make constructive suggestions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Oakland County Board of
Commissioners hereby requests that the Mayor of Detroit and the Detroit
City Council undertake a meaningful evaluation of the efficiency of the
DWSD operations by employing the services of an independent, outside
consultant to evaluate the efficiency of DWSD operations.
Chairperson, on behalf of the Planning and Building Committee, I
move the adoption of the foregoing resolution.
`-' --PLANNING AND al)JLDING COMMITTEE
Planning & Building Committee Vote:
Motion carried on unanimous roll call vote
Resolution #03346 December 11, 2003
Moved by KowaII supported by Suarez the resolutions on the Consent Agenda be adopted (with
accompanying reports being accepted).
AYES: Coulter, Crawford, Gregory, Hatchett, Jamian, Knollenberg, KowaII, Law, Long, McMillin,
Moffitt, Moss, Palmer, Patterson, Potter, Rogers, Scott, Suarez, Webster, Wilson, Zack, Bullard.
(22)
NAYS: None. (0)
A sufficient majority having voted therefore, the resolutions on the Consent Agenda were adopted (with
accompanying reports being accepted).
DOES NOT REQUIRE COUNTY EXECUTIVE ACTION
STATE OF MICHIGAN)
COUNTY OF OAKLAND)
I, G. William Caddell, Clerk of the County of Oakland, do hereby certify that the foregoing resolution is a true
and accurate copy of a resolution adopted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners on
December 11, 2003 with the original record thereof now remaining in my office.
In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the,County of Oakland at
Pontiac, Michigan this 11th day of December, 2003.
G. William Caddell, County Clerk