The City of Flint had another 30-day water contract with the Great Lakes Water Authority approved on Tuesday by the GLWA board.
But a long-term water contract remains in limbo after a US District Judge David Lawson on Friday shot down the Flint City Council’s request for a two-year water contract with GLWA.
The City Council requested the two year deal with GLWA in lieu of a 30 year contract supported by the DEQ and Flint Mayor Karen Weaver.
Scott Kincaid is a city council member. He said the council wanted the shorter contract in order to conduct an independent analysis of the best water supply for the city.
“The city council and myself have been looking out for the best interest of the residents of the city of Flint. We don’t want to go along with the Mayor and the Governor and the DEQ which got us into this mess to begin with. We want an independent analysis and not something they’ve done and what they are recommending.”
Kincaid said the city council will continue to push for the two year contract so the council can conduct an analysis.
“We’re just waiting for our Attorneys to get back so we can see where we can go. The city council want’s a two year contract with GLWA so we can do an evaluation of what the best water source is for Flint.”
In his decision denying the two year contract, Judge Lawson wrote “The city council has not offered any good reasons for reconsidering, altering, amending, or withdrawing this court's judgement.”
In a written statement Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said “continuing with these short term deals is costing the city much more for water than it would have cost had the long term recommendation been approved months ago as planned.”
The Mayor’s full statement is below:
Mayor Weaver was pleased with the judge's opinion and decision. Prior to the decision being handed down, the City Attorney noted that the extension proposed by City Council had not been reviewed or approved by GLWA.
In addition, Mayor Weaver said she did not believe a 2-year extension was a solution since it does nothing to prevent Flint’s water system from becoming financially insolvent within two years, which is a very real possibility without a substantial rate increase. It is also important to note that all of GLWA’s contracts with wholesale customers are 30-year contracts, therefore it is unlikely that GLWA would agree to a two-year extension as the Council has proposed.
Mayor Weaver called a special City Council meeting last week, for the council to approve another extension since the previous contract with GLWA expires October 31. Without the extension, the City would be without a water source. However, she noted that continuing with these short-term deals is costing the City much more for water each month than it would have cost had the long-term recommendation been approved months ago as planned.
The judge's decision can be found here: