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House committee hears testimony on police powers for Great Lakes Water Authority
Summary
The Michigan House Committee on Regulatory Reform heard testimony for bills that would grant police powers to the Great Lakes Water Authority, with supporters citing security and infrastructure protection and the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards urging use of an existing private security statute instead.
The Michigan House Committee on Regulatory Reform heard testimony on proposals to give the Great Lakes Water Authority expanded police powers to protect its water and wastewater infrastructure, witnesses said during a committee hearing.
Supporters, including Great Lakes Water Authority officials and public-safety chiefs, told the committee the authority provides drinking water to roughly 40% of Michigan residents and wastewater services to about 30%, and that its geographically dispersed facilities and use of hazardous chemicals make dedicated policing and timely contractor vetting essential.
Deputy chief executive William Wilson of the Great Lakes Water Authority said the authority serves about 3,900,000 people for drinking water and 2,800,000 for wastewater. He said GLWA’s operations draw attention from hostile actors and that officers now must call local law enforcement if they encounter incidents off their fenced property. “By the time EMS showed up about 14 minutes later, it was…
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