[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6467095,"mediaKeyId","5810561-7ba3a27b38ddb32cbb52f36247137882","parentId",5810561,"title","Walled Lake hears petition to form chapter 20 drainage district for wastewater plant","audioSeconds",1244,"startMs",225000,"endMs",1469000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810561-7ba3a27b38ddb32cbb52f36247137882&start=225&end=1469","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810561-7ba3a27b38ddb32cbb52f36247137882/thumbnail_225000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6467095/Walled-Lake/Wayne-County/Michigan/Walled-Lake-hears-petition-to-form-chapter-20-drainage-district-for-wastewater-plant","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467095-b9dbb604865d13db34df102bdcb2d6a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1776552105&Signature=QO7Fsl3vaPG2zcOckvXQ3aCYXG890zLu0~gSi0F2lMWqiKGVSM8yjUo~HJw~r4mxTElJ9IyLRTOK0TvLycYzX7O9lQvcH-bFGMxiIhB6s-a80Wl-CIKFSS8q7AqHX8O4VOkGSxHmfBlTBujInR7C9d9lGimQk20JvmvAPoaPM23LbVC5GDGHmplrI~IwYUn~OmSNSzXYcgS8SFazB4Jb9MKW3za1Lq5OrY-Ck3dKnaRDYtiAnN0yxhuMnru~TrWJaGQP-2vmgtajeNSFGwhcr6BkWFLzG~0KCX~ea3GeY6Cwg9hZ1ZTWKr5v3MTQ3q5K4~5PvaQNBI9FIDkdoObUNQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Walled Lake","date","2025-09-17T00:00:00Z","article","An Oakland County resource engineer told the Walled Lake City Council she has petitioned to form a chapter 20 drainage district to combine oversight of the city’s wastewater treatment plant and the Walled Lake arm with the cities of Novi and a portion of Commerce Township.

The presenter, identified in the meeting as Maryl Krueger of the Oakland County Resource Commission, said much of the plant dates to the 1960s and later additions and that a major capital-improvement plan would be needed. \"I project that this would be a total of a $6,000,000 project with your portion being about $2,000,000 over the next 5 or 6 years,\" Krueger said, and said Walled Lake’s share would be apportioned by flow — roughly one-third of the plant’s influent.

Krueger described several high-cost items in the plan, including lining and repair of the Walled Lake arm piping, replacement or rehabilitation of electric motor control centers and power panels, ventilation upgrades to meet code, and concrete sludge-tank lining and repair. She said the chapter 20 framework would create a drainage district board that would receive regular updates, approve invoices and contracts, and allow participating jurisdictions to spread certain operational and capital costs across the district rather than leaving them entirely on a single city.

Council members and city officials pressed for more detail on legal authority, voting representation and cost allocation. Multiple speakers warned that a drainage district would create another separate government entity with its own board and cautioned the council not to cede leverage without clear protections for Walled Lake. One speaker urged careful design of voting rights, noting a concern that the city could become a minority on decisions. Krueger said the drainage district would be able to pursue commercial users that cause obstructions or blockages (for example, grease or FOG) and that enforcement could be easier as a multi-jurisdictional entity, though she acknowledged legal steps to pursue responsible parties could be complex.

Councilmembers asked whether the plant service could be separated; Krueger replied the plant is a single influent/treatment system and cannot practically be split. She also said the drainage district would set how projects are funded and that members could choose to fund projects as they go instead of issuing a large bond up front. Krueger said documentation of flow allocations is available and that allocations would be based on measured flow.

After discussion, a council member moved to schedule further public discussion and follow-up meetings; Councilmember Casey Ambrose seconded the motion. Council instruction was that staff arrange a workshop meeting and, if appropriate, subsequent public hearings and legal review to explore options and draft terms; the motion passed on a roll-call vote with all members present voting yes.

Next steps recorded during the meeting included: staff to set a workshop date, the city attorney and county legal team to coordinate for clarifying legal questions, and a follow-up meeting to review draft documents prior to any public hearing. Council members said they expect additional meetings before any formal action to form a drainage district or to adopt intergovernmental agreements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 16, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","An Oakland County resource engineer told the Walled Lake City Council she has petitioned to form a chapter 20 drainage district to combine oversight of the city’s wastewater treatment plant and the Walled Lake arm with the cities of Novi and a portion of Commerce Township.","taxTitle","Walled Lake, Wayne County, Michigan","taxId",70298,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6467085,"Residents press Walled Lake council on dark streetlight and early campaign sign enforcement",411,1488000,1899000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810561-7ba3a27b38ddb32cbb52f36247137882&start=1488&end=1899","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810561-7ba3a27b38ddb32cbb52f36247137882/thumbnail_1488000.jpg","/articles/6467085/Walled-Lake/Wayne-County/Michigan/Residents-press-Walled-Lake-council-on-dark-streetlight-and-early-campaign-sign-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467085-c2718f8b5e280d55c0eb8dba2a911558/orig.mp4?Expires=1776552105&Signature=YKEhHX86~IDg0lseIbKpmNySsn4Rsj5HL7Un9w8WXzXFfDr8dEsIbf5ncjkdcRD8YZ0A5PN61GabH5K0kLRbV~UMUjiTMXRsyqxBXBYdiCCXlBuXnUhNOMdpZJfyHgQ2JmLNE6eiZcprbEmZlw0TtlndU2NBVcj4UMYIxn2~RioyiATfCI4P1Dsti9G6jcUgb-FrFbG7TM2JrOqe7RwhRRuAkFBFeeQYY4hING8FppPVcV6bKxSR2BbiT459bOVxgbMUeIPfyyL1S3v3DBh66xmMeQto1uaPfSqDfVKw5cug2H3BhwtnClTdXVZmzQbMlJ5SOxinQSw8AbwQBDpF8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two residents raised separate public-safety and code-enforcement concerns during the public-comment portion of the Walled Lake City Council meeting.

Randy Savora of 1145 North Eddie said an older mercury-vapor streetlight near a sharp turn has been out for about 90 days and described the location as hazardous for school buses, bicyclists and drivers. \"If it saves 1 kid's life from maim injury or an accident, it would make my day,\" Savora said as he urged the city to repair or replace the light. He told council staff he had provided photos and attempted to coordinate with DTE and city staff about ownership and repair.

Council members and city staff said they would investigate whether the pole is a city-owned light, a DTE-owned fixture, or privately maintained, and would report back. Officials said if the light is city-owned it will be fixed; if it is privately owned, the city will identify the owner and present options.

Separately, Rich Con (recorded in the meeting as from 486 Eastlake Drive) said he observed an oversized campaign sign posted on a greenhouse that exceeded the size limits in the city's ordinance and was placed before the allowable start date for campaign signs. Con asked the council to address selective enforcement and to have the city enforce its rules consistently.

City staff acknowledged the complaint and said they would look into the sign and enforcement status and follow up with the complainant. No formal enforcement action or council vote on either item took place during the meeting; staff said they would report findings back to council.","Two residents used public comment to urge the council to fix a long-out safety light on North Eddie Drive and to enforce the sign ordinance after a large campaign sign was posted early; city officials said they would investigate ownership and report back.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6467090,"Walled Lake council approves HAZ-Alert transponders for six emergency vehicles",177,2813000,2990000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5810561-7ba3a27b38ddb32cbb52f36247137882&start=2813&end=2990","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5810561-7ba3a27b38ddb32cbb52f36247137882/thumbnail_2813000.jpg","/articles/6467090/Walled-Lake/Wayne-County/Michigan/Walled-Lake-council-approves-HAZ-Alert-transponders-for-six-emergency-vehicles","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6467090-76392d6833e8c3db063445d180bb4c55/orig.mp4?Expires=1776552105&Signature=COrHfq151E0Ibwqek-ZRDrAYhZtNidSn42YN6jIxpnhSP0MGM8UIAS3COhMn6x1~3PvM2oPnvehz2QyLwCBzdKhH6W6AomCqUl3PPnkl9nNbUPRElAbqiUZKSrUaMFrWcR7Hq0cccDJ4o-ghGzYheck~uQbScH4i2bhwGyz7iC1JcyE6q5ImQjCrRaG0B6BLG~MOAMJHXGAP5vrnIooL49qFG5gzvzxgz9hRAdp98IC8iiGQLOWyw7H-DHF6h8H1WfUB4vBIwKCCMhzPMKJMr8RubwidegzL0FUIDUKyVjLho9uoIV~hO1yDE2SWmI9KoQPhnzV99BWMVQ48xdNkmw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Walled Lake City Council approved a budget amendment to equip six emergency vehicles with HAZ-Alert safety transponders after a presentation by the fire department.

The fire chief (presented in the meeting as the department representative) described the HAZ-Alert system as small transponder devices that broadcast alerts to approaching drivers and to compatible travel apps. The chief said Stellantis vehicles from model year 2018 and later, and some Volvo and Volkswagen vehicles, can receive alerts; travel apps such as Waze and Google Maps can also display the warnings. \"Over the last 3 years, it's sent out over 3,000 alerts,\" the presenter said, adding a single vehicle sends roughly 250 alerts per month.

The chief presented costs: about $360 per transponder as a one-time equipment fee and roughly $220 per month per transponder for the service contract. To equip five additional vehicles (the department already had one vehicle equipped), the presenter said the one-time equipment cost would be about $3,120 and the annual service contract would be approximately $1,320. The Community Development Authority (CDA) agreed to fund the purchase, and the city’s general fund was not expected to pay the ongoing costs, according to discussion at the meeting.

A motion to approve the budget amendment passed on roll call with all council members voting yes. The council record shows the rollout will equip a total of six vehicles and that fire department staff will coordinate installation and service activation with the vendor.

Council discussion noted the system’s potential to give drivers extra seconds of warning when approaching emergency scenes and to improve first-responder safety. The vote to approve the amendment was recorded as unanimous.","Council approved a budget amendment to equip six emergency vehicles with HAZ-Alert transponders; a fire department presentation estimated a one-time equipment cost of about $3,120 for five additional devices and an annual service contract of about $1,320, with the Community Development Authority funding the purchase.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Walled Lake hears petition to form chapter 20 drainage district for wastewater plant

Residents press Walled Lake council on dark streetlight and early campaign sign enforcement

Walled Lake council approves HAZ-Alert transponders for six emergency vehicles