Shelby Township Government Criticizes Detroit Emergency Manager's Water Plan

Citing years of past corruption and, “the Detroit Water Department’s delinquency, incompetence, waste and mismanagement,” Shelby Township Clerk Stanley Grot invites residents to join him in addressing these issues head on.

Grot will address the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department’s years of abuse of Shelby Township residents at a Citizens Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at 6:30 p.m. at Shelby Township Hall at 52700 Van Dyke Ave.

“Years of neglect, cronyism, mismanagement and greed in the Detroit Water Department have caused astronomically high water rates with large annual increases with no end in sight,” Grot said.

“This informational town hall meeting will expose how Shelby Township residents and surrounding communities are being gouged by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department. The truth must be told.” Grot continued by saying, “The Detroit Water and Sewerage Department has a monopoly which needs to be exposed and changed so the suburbs have input and a voice at the table,” Grot added. “Water rates are out of control. If you agree with me on this statement and want to learn more, I hope you can attend this meeting.”

Grot assembled a panel of experts to provide residents with credible information and sobering facts on this, “unjust monopoly” with Wayne County Commissioner and current Water Board Task Force Chairman Shannon Price, Shelby Township Supervisor Rick Stathakis, acting Shelby Township DPW Director David Miller and others presenting.

“As a customer of Detroit Water and Sewerage Department, there is only so much the Township can do with the water rates we are forced to pass on to our residents,” Stathakis said. “I applaud Clerk Grot for convening this town hall meeting, so we can clearly explain the many levels of problems with the current system.”

Grot said that, in addition to investigating the current system, he and his experts will also examine possible solutions that will bring a fairer and more equitable water bill to residents’ mailboxes. Emergency Manger Kevyn Orr is floating the idea to bond $9 billion over a 40-year period against all of the customers who utilize the Detroit Water System. About 80 percent of the Detroit Water Department’s revenue comes from the suburbs.

“It seems to me that Mr. Orr’s goal is to balance Detroit’s budget on the backs of the hard-working taxpayers in the suburbs. We cannot stand idly by and allow this to happen,” Grot said. “Together, we must stand up to this burden being placed on Shelby Township taxpayers, and in time, make positive changes to this horrible situation we are in.” 

Source: Shelby Township Clerk's Office