A group of residents and statewide organizers urged the Bay City Commission Monday to support legislation addressing water affordability, saying high bills and aging infrastructure are placing households at risk.

Sylvia Ordunio, who identified herself as a statewide organizer on water affordability, asked the commission to consider passing a resolution in support of statewide water-affordability measures. "I'm coming here humbly today to ask for your support for statewide water affordability," she said, citing conversations with residents across Michigan and the similarity of affordability pressures among communities.

Why it matters: speakers said water and sewer costs are rising and that low-income households are often least represented in municipal surveys and forums. Ordunio told commissioners the problem is common across municipalities and urged the city to join other communities in backing state-level solutions so no one locality must shoulder the burden alone.

Roslyn Walker and Alton McIntyre, both canvassers and organizers from Detroit-area groups, described conversations with residents who said they were making trade-offs between water bills and other necessities. "A lot of them were saying that they are having trouble paying their water bills and that the water bills are too high," Roslyn Walker said. Alton McIntyre emphasized the human consequences: "Water is something that we need. It's life. It's a life sustainer so we did our canvassing and I'm seeing that much of the things that we're experiencing in Detroit water rates going up and nowhere landlords not paying their part of the bill shifting the the weight off to the tenant."

Speakers asked the commission to pass a supporting resolution and to coordinate with other Michigan municipalities; they offered to provide canvassing and community testimony to help shape state legislation.

Commission response: Commissioners thanked the speakers and acknowledged the survey results presented earlier showing resident concern about utility costs. No formal vote or resolution was taken on water affordability during the meeting; organizers asked the city to consider passing a formal resolution in future meetings.

Ending: Organizers said they would follow up with staff and offered to share canvassing findings and community meeting notes. The commission did not take immediate action but heard the speakers and accepted their materials.