Flat Rock mayor demands answers after dam meetings held without city participation

Mayor Beller told the Flat Rock City Council she learned that outside groups have held monthly meetings about the Flat Rock dam without notifying or inviting the city, and said she has demanded documents and answers.

Beller said she received an email with minutes and accompanying paperwork this afternoon and will review the packet with Mr. Marciniak and Mr. Zick before sharing it with the full council. "I can't really answer any questions right now because I haven't read anything on it. So we're gonna get into this this week, and we are gonna be talking with them," Beller said. She told the council she will contact state and federal representatives and expects to have an update by the next meeting.

The mayor said she was "very, very upset" to learn the city had been left out and described the issue as one for local residents. "As far as I'm concerned, this is the people's voice," she said.

The concern stems from potential changes to the dam and adjacent structures that residents say could lower the impounded water and change waterfront conditions. At public comment, Sue (a resident) said meeting materials indicate the Metroparks owns the dam, the railroad owns the property under it, and a private company holds a lease and has been conducting maintenance. Sue said she attended community meetings and that other residents who live along West Huron River Drive have raised worries that removing or altering the dam would convert their lakefront back to a river, affecting boat access and shoreline conditions.

Sue said the earlier meetings were held virtually and that the city-owned walking bridge is part of the overall project discussion: "Flat Rock owns that walking bridge," she said. She also told the council the meeting series included residents and representatives from neighboring jurisdictions and natural-resources agencies.

Councilmembers and staff discussed possible remedies. One council member asked whether the city could put on record any alleged violations of federal, state, or local law; an attorney present replied that legal action was one option under discussion. Mayor Beller later said she would "go through the notes along with the mayor and the city administrator, and we'll look and see how this happened and what our recourse can be."

The mayor said she will distribute the meeting minutes and paperwork to councilmembers and review them with the city attorney and staff. She asked the attorney to pursue any necessary legal measures and said she will report back at the next council meeting whether the review yields opportunities for formal action or other remedies.

The council did not take a formal vote on the dam at this meeting. Several speakers asked the city to be included in future meetings and to clarify who has decision-making authority over the dam and related facilities.

Mayor Beller said the packet included minutes covering meetings from the past year and that she, Mr. Marciniak and Mr. Zick will review the material before bringing any recommended next steps back to council.