City Administration Takes Steps to Comply with Preliminary Injunction, Including Staffing and Capital Improvement Schedule Changes
Flint, Michigan – August 24, 2015 – The City of Flint is taking steps to bring the City of Flint into compliance with a recent preliminary injunction issued by Circuit Court Judge Archie Hayman in Shears vs. City of Flint.
The City will be utilizing a lower rate structure for customers unless a stay from the Court of Appeals is granted. The City will resume shutoffs for non-payment once any new bills become delinquent. It is anticipated that revenues collected into the Water and Sewer funds will be significantly reduced; as a result, a number of measures have and will be taken to maintain solvency.
Unfilled Positions: There are fourteen positions currently open in the Utilities division; all of these positions, with the exception of one, will go unfilled until such time as the expenditures can be made. The position of Lab Supervisor is a critical one and must be filled.
Capital Improvement Changes: A number of projects in the Capital Improvement Plan will be suspended. Below is a list of now suspended CIP projects:
- Hamilton Dam sheet piling and structural repairs – $1,760,900
- Water Plant interior lighting replacement/repairs – $400,000
- Water Plant vehicle storage addition – $100,000
- Wastewater 24” pipeline project (Dupont St.) – $4,000,000
- Wastewater valve cycling – $160,000
- Water Service Center sewer relining (partial reduction) – $600,000
Suspension of these capital improvement projects will result in a total of $7,020,900 less expenditure from the plan’s budgeted $11,838,093. Going forward, fewer projects will be planned and budgeted in following fiscal years.
“This will limit the City’s ability to address the overarching problems in our aging infrastructure,” said City Administrator Natasha L. Henderson. “We will be at a disadvantage in dealing with problems before they become critical. We may be able to maintain the system for the time being, but the impact to both the cost and the performance of the system are in danger of growing worse if we can no longer effectuate proactive measures.”
Mayor Walling stated: “The lower rates will ease the burden on customers, but the City must maintain fiscal responsibility, so other adjustments have to be made. We cannot afford to overlook growing issues within our system.”
