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Residents urge Bay City to back statewide water-affordability resolution
Summary
Several residents urged the commission to support a statewide clean-and-affordable-water resolution, arguing it would help low-income households and could bring roughly $2 million to Bay City for water-bill relief; speakers cited local poverty statistics and called for city support.
During public comment on Dec. 1, multiple speakers urged the Bay City City Commission to support a statewide clean-and-affordable-water resolution and to consider local measures to address rising water and utility costs.
Sylvia Orduno described a statewide program that she said could bring about $2 million to Bay City to help residents with water bills and cited Census-style figures — she said roughly 3,100 households, about 21.5% of Bay City residents, live below the federal poverty level — as context for why assistance is needed. Orduno and other speakers also urged the commission to consider whether utility costs would change for tenants when housing portfolios are transferred between providers.
Other public commenters, including Roslyn Walker and Alton McIntyre, recounted conversations with residents about difficulties paying utility bills and asked the commission to support action that would reduce burdens on low-income households. No formal city resolution on the issue was introduced at the meeting; speakers offered to leave materials with the clerk for staff and commissioners to review.
Next steps: speakers requested the commission consider the state program’s details and consult with staff to determine whether Bay City should adopt supporting language or a local complement to state assistance.
