HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions - 2004.04.22 - 27399REPORT (MISC. 104078) April 22, 2004
BY: General Government Committee, William R. Patterson, Chairperson
IN RE: MR #04078 — BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS — SUPPORT FOR STATE
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 159 — DETROIT WATER AND SEWER
COMMITTEE
To the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
The General Government Committee, having reviewed Miscellaneous Resolution
#04078 on April 5, 2004, reports with a recommendation that the second NOW
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED paragraph be amended, as follows:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County
Board of Commissioners requests the Michigan House of Representatives to
publish the findings of the House Select Committee.
Chairperson, on behalf of the General Government Committee, I move
acceptance of the foregoing report.
GENERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE
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General Government Committee Vote:
Motion carried on a roll call vote with Coulter voting no.
Miscellaneous Resolution # 04078
BY: Commissioner Eileen T. KowaII, District #6 1 c--c,t-^1-A%ss“:14C-17--- arg- Oot-l6LAG$Pisl-gtc-T*12
RE: Board of Commissioners - Support for State House Resolution No. 159 -
Detroit Water and Sewer Committee
TO: Oakland County Board of Commissioners
Chairperson, Ladies and Gentlemen:
WHEREAS the Michigan State Legislature adopted House Resolution No. 159, to create
a select committee to review the practices and policies of the Detroit Water and Sewerage
Department (DWSD); and
WHEREAS the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is responsible for providing water
services to 4.3 million people in more than 125 communities throughout 8 counties in
southeastern Michigan; and
WHEREAS in recent years, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has been
increasingly criticized over apparent inconsistencies in its policies, questionable rate
differences among communities, and uncertain lines of authority and communication; and
WHEREAS with the magnitude of the system's impact on the most populous region of
Michigan, the operation of this system and the issues raised need to be correctly identified
and addressed; and
WHEREAS an audit conducted to review the department's rate setting uncovered millions
of dollars in overcharges to Oakland County communities. This discovery has raised
serious questions about the accuracy of rates charged throughout the system and the
efficiency of many of its procedures; and
WHEREAS the Oakland County Board of Commissioners adopted Miscellaneous
Resolution #04027, which declared that the Mayor of Detroit and the Detroit City Council
must permit an evaluation of the efficiency of the DWSD operations by an independent,
outside consultant and such evaluation should be conducted in a public forum to provide
assurances that DWSD is operated efficiently and cost effectively; and
WHEREAS the efficiency of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department is vitally
important to Michigan's future. The massive power blackout of August 14, 2003, renewed
concerns over problems with the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. Problems could
be very harmful not only to Oakland County residents and businesses, but also to the
state's competitiveness;
WHEREAS the Michigan House of Representatives acted to create a select committee to
review the practices and policies of the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, including
the setting of rates throughout the system; the department's billing practices, processes,
and procedures; how the department will refund overcharges; and clarifying the oversight
relationship between the department and the Southeast Michigan Consortium for Water
Quality; and
Commissioner
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Commissioner Eileen T. Kowall
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Chairperson, we move the adoption
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WHEREAS the House Select Committee created to review the practices and policies of
the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department consists of seven (7) members from the
House of Representatives, appointed in the same manner as standing committees of the
House of Representatives.
WHEREAS the House Select Committee is to report its findings and recommendations to
the Michigan Legislature by June 30, 2004.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
hereby supports the House Select Committee that was created with the adoption of House
Resolution No. 159, to review the practices and policies of the Detroit Water and
Sewerage Department.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Oakland County Board of Commissioners
requests the Michigan House of Representatives to publish the findings of the House
Select Committee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Oakland County Clerk forward copies of this
adopted resolution to Governor Jennifer Granholm, Representative Shelley G. Taub, the
Oakland County delegation to the state legislature, Michigan Association of Counties and
Oakland County's legislative lobbyists.
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Resolution #04078 March 18, 2004
The Chairperson referred the resolution to the General Government Committee. There were no objections.
G. William Caddell, County Clerk
Resolution #04078 April 22, 2004
Moved by Patterson supported by KowaII the resolution be adopted.
Moved by Patterson supported by Gregory the General Government Committee Report be accepted.
A sufficient majority having voted therefore, the report was accepted.
Moved by Patterson supported by Rogers the resolution be amended to coincide with the recommendation in
the General Government Committee Report.
A sufficient majority having voted therefore, the amendment carried.
Discussion followed.
Vote on resolution, as amended:
AYES: Jamian, Knollenberg, KowaII, Long, McMillin, Middleton, Moffitt, Moss, Palmer, Patterson,
Potter, Rogers, Scott, Suarez, Webster, Wilson, Bullard, Crawford, Douglas. (19)
NAYS: Zack, Coleman, Coulter, Gregory, Hatchett. (5)
A sufficient majority having voted therefore, the resolution, as amended, was adopted.
OE NOT NOUN EXECON ACTIN
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 April 22, 2004
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 22nd day of April, 2004.