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Flint could have saved money without using corrosive river water, some say Flint could have saved money without using corrosive river water, some say
(about 5 hours later)
The catastrophic decision by Flint, Mich., to switch to a water supply that brought toxic lead into thousands of homes is routinely portrayed as part of a long-term move to a new pipeline intended to save a destitute government millions of dollars each year.The catastrophic decision by Flint, Mich., to switch to a water supply that brought toxic lead into thousands of homes is routinely portrayed as part of a long-term move to a new pipeline intended to save a destitute government millions of dollars each year.
The reality is much more complicated. The Detroit water system, which had supplied Flint for a half-century, fought fiercely until 2013 to keep the city as a customer. It ultimately offered rates that it claimed would cost 20 percent less than the Flint’s share of the $600 million plan to build the pipeline from Lake Huron, according to documents, interviews and media coverage of those events. The reality is much more complicated. The Detroit water system, which had supplied Flint for a half-century, fought fiercely until 2013 to keep the city as a customer. It ultimately offered rates that it claimed would cost 20 percent less than Flint’s share of the $600 million plan to build the pipeline from Lake Huron, according to documents, interviews and media coverage of those events.
Had Flint officials stuck with Detroit’s water, they would not have had to rely on the Flint River as an interim water source and lead would not have leached from the city’s aging pipes into the taps of some of its 100,000 residents.Had Flint officials stuck with Detroit’s water, they would not have had to rely on the Flint River as an interim water source and lead would not have leached from the city’s aging pipes into the taps of some of its 100,000 residents.
“At a minimum, one would have to ask some pretty tough questions about whether it made sense to build new water infrastructure for a mature and declining population,” Eric Scorsone, director of the Center for Local Government, Finance and Policy at Michigan State University, said Tuesday. “I think the question is: What is the gain from this?”“At a minimum, one would have to ask some pretty tough questions about whether it made sense to build new water infrastructure for a mature and declining population,” Eric Scorsone, director of the Center for Local Government, Finance and Policy at Michigan State University, said Tuesday. “I think the question is: What is the gain from this?”
The saga, many years in the making, is a classic political and policy dilemma, one that features difficult decisions over short-term vs. long-term savings, as well as a community’s desire for control of its water supply. The decision over a project that will cost hundreds of millions of borrowed dollars went all the way to Republican Gov. Rick Snyder’s office in Lansing.The saga, many years in the making, is a classic political and policy dilemma, one that features difficult decisions over short-term vs. long-term savings, as well as a community’s desire for control of its water supply. The decision over a project that will cost hundreds of millions of borrowed dollars went all the way to Republican Gov. Rick Snyder’s office in Lansing.
[Flint water crisis reveals government failures at every level][Flint water crisis reveals government failures at every level]
Snyder, a former accountant and venture capitalist whose Twitter handle is @onetoughnerd, took office in 2011 promising to fix the state’s many financial problems by applying the expertise of outsiders who could reinvent the way government works. In Flint, where poverty had deepened after the departure of much of the auto industry, he appointed a series of emergency managers whose authority superseded even that of the elected city council.Snyder, a former accountant and venture capitalist whose Twitter handle is @onetoughnerd, took office in 2011 promising to fix the state’s many financial problems by applying the expertise of outsiders who could reinvent the way government works. In Flint, where poverty had deepened after the departure of much of the auto industry, he appointed a series of emergency managers whose authority superseded even that of the elected city council.
Flint officials had long chafed at purchasing water from Detroit, which, they alleged, overcharged them based on distance and elevation, and sometimes raised rates by large amounts in a single year.Flint officials had long chafed at purchasing water from Detroit, which, they alleged, overcharged them based on distance and elevation, and sometimes raised rates by large amounts in a single year.
In 2010, they established the Karegnondi Water Authority with the city of Lapeer and three counties to build their own 63-mile pipeline from Lake Huron, as well as treatment and other facilities to go with it. One planning report estimated the cost of the project at $600 million, according to a 2009 story in the Flint Journal. In 2010, they established the Karegnondi Water Authority with the city of Lapeer and three counties to build their own 63-mile pipeline from Lake Huron, as well as treatment and other facilities to go with it. One planning report estimated the cost of the project at $600 million, according to a 2009 article in the Flint Journal.
The Bond Buyer, a trade magazine, would later call the plan to finance construction its 2014 “deal of the year” in the Midwest.The Bond Buyer, a trade magazine, would later call the plan to finance construction its 2014 “deal of the year” in the Midwest.
But the Detroit Water and Sewer District wasn’t about to lose a major customer — and a revenue source of $22 million, about 6 percent of its total — without a fight. Emails posted Friday by Bill Johnson, who at the time served as a media consultant for the water district, revealed a series of proposals to keep Flint aboard.But the Detroit Water and Sewer District wasn’t about to lose a major customer — and a revenue source of $22 million, about 6 percent of its total — without a fight. Emails posted Friday by Bill Johnson, who at the time served as a media consultant for the water district, revealed a series of proposals to keep Flint aboard.
The offers culminated with one that Sue McCormick, then head of the water district, contended would save Flint 48 percent immediately and 20 percent over the long haul.The offers culminated with one that Sue McCormick, then head of the water district, contended would save Flint 48 percent immediately and 20 percent over the long haul.
McCormick, who now leads a different water authority, declined to be interviewed this week but released a statement saying that an April 15, 2013, email was an accurate copy of an internal document. “DWSD attempted to negotiate with Flint to continue to provide water service to the city,” she noted in her statement.McCormick, who now leads a different water authority, declined to be interviewed this week but released a statement saying that an April 15, 2013, email was an accurate copy of an internal document. “DWSD attempted to negotiate with Flint to continue to provide water service to the city,” she noted in her statement.
[Top Michigan EPA official resigns in water crisis][Top Michigan EPA official resigns in water crisis]
Flint’s city council was not swayed. It voted 7 to 1 on the same day to approve the new pipeline. Mayor Dayne Walling also approved the plan, and emergency manager Ed Kurtz signed off. Four days earlier, Flint had received approval from state Treasurer Andy Dillon to proceed with the pipeline project. Dillon reported directly to Snyder.Flint’s city council was not swayed. It voted 7 to 1 on the same day to approve the new pipeline. Mayor Dayne Walling also approved the plan, and emergency manager Ed Kurtz signed off. Four days earlier, Flint had received approval from state Treasurer Andy Dillon to proceed with the pipeline project. Dillon reported directly to Snyder.
Snyder’s press secretary, David Murray, declined to answer questions this week but released a statement that said in part: “Genesee County and Flint leaders had been talking about moving away from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department for a number of years. The city and county leaders were committed to building their own pipeline — the Karegnondi Water Authority — and not be locked into a long-term agreement with the DWSD.”Snyder’s press secretary, David Murray, declined to answer questions this week but released a statement that said in part: “Genesee County and Flint leaders had been talking about moving away from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department for a number of years. The city and county leaders were committed to building their own pipeline — the Karegnondi Water Authority — and not be locked into a long-term agreement with the DWSD.”
According to a 2013 story by Michigan Radio , Kurtz said that Detroit could have raised rates at any time in the ensuing 29 years of an agreement, and Genesee County’s Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright noted that Flint residents were paying about six times the amount that water customers in nearby counties paid. According to a 2013 story by Michigan Radio, Kurtz said that Detroit could have raised rates at any time in the ensuing 29 years of an agreement, and Genesee County’s Drain Commissioner Jeff Wright noted that Flint residents were paying about six times the amount that water customers in nearby counties paid.
“To me, we’re subsidizing the rest of southeast Michigan, and this gets us out of that game,” he said at the time.“To me, we’re subsidizing the rest of southeast Michigan, and this gets us out of that game,” he said at the time.
Detroit served notice that it would stop shipping water to Flint a year later. When that occurred, Flint tapped its river as an interim source until the new pipeline could be completed. But the state neglected to add the chemicals that would have prevented corrosion in the pipes, and thousands of people drank the contaminated water.Detroit served notice that it would stop shipping water to Flint a year later. When that occurred, Flint tapped its river as an interim source until the new pipeline could be completed. But the state neglected to add the chemicals that would have prevented corrosion in the pipes, and thousands of people drank the contaminated water.
Eighteen months later, on Snyder’s orders, the city was forced to acquire a new water supply: Lake Huron water, furnished by Detroit.Eighteen months later, on Snyder’s orders, the city was forced to acquire a new water supply: Lake Huron water, furnished by Detroit.