Owosso schedules public town hall on water rates after residents raise concerns over century-old reservoir

Owosso City Council voted to hold a public town hall on April 23 at 6:30 p.m. to present a five-year evaluation of the city’s water and sewer systems and the proposed rate options to fund that work. The council moved its April 21 meeting to the Owosso Public Schools Performing Arts Center to accommodate anticipated attendance.

The town hall was scheduled after weeks of public attention to the utility system. At the April 7 council meeting, resident Mister Manky described an in-ground concrete tank on private property and said the city’s million-gallon reservoir has leaked for years. "I pump that water into that tank," Manky said of his own apartment system, adding later, "I think the state's gotta be notified immediately the condition" if the city's reservoir is leaking.

The council and staff responded that the city has reviewed the reservoir with regulators and that treated water that enters the underground tank is tested in the plant before being redistributed. Director Ryan Soumanik told the council: "All the treated water goes into that tank. Does not get distributed to any citizens. It goes back into the plant... gets tested hourly, and it still meets and exceeds all state and EPA requirements." City staff said the state has been notified and that previous engineering work on the reservoir was presented to council in 2023.

City Manager (unnamed in the record) explained the purpose of the town hall: "This is a special meeting of council, information only, and to get comment from the public," and said staff would present the current rate study and options that the council will consider at later meetings. The manager also said staff invited state district engineers to prior sessions but cannot compel their attendance; one district engineer had prior engagements and was unable to attend.

Public speakers at the meeting asked how long potential rate repayment periods would be and whether county or state officials would speak at the town hall. Staff said the meeting will include city supervisors and utility experts who can answer technical questions; outside agencies were invited but not guaranteed to attend.

Council members moved meeting logistics to accommodate public participation: the April 21 regular meeting was relocated to the Owosso Public Schools Performing Arts Center, and the council approved scheduling the April 23 town hall at the same venue. Council also approved rescheduling the May 5 council meeting to May 7 at the same performing arts center to ensure continuity of public access when the matter returns for deliberation.

The city manager said an updated rate-options analysis by consultants Baker Tilly would be included in the April 21 packet. The manager added that the town hall and subsequent council meetings are intended to present information, receive public comment, and then allow council to consider any policy or rate decisions with full public record.

The meeting closed with staff and council reiterating that the town hall is intended to provide the public an opportunity to ask technical and policy questions and that city staff would make available the engineering materials referenced in prior reviews so residents can review them before the town hall.

Ending: Council members, staff and utility supervisors will be present at the April 23 town hall to explain the rate study and to take public comment; the council will consider rate and funding decisions at future meetings after the information-gathering sessions.