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Mount Clemens residents say repeated basement flooding; commission orders sewer separation study
Summary
Residents from Kendrick Street told the Mount Clemens City Commission that repeated storms have flooded basements and damaged appliances; the city manager said the commission directed the city engineer to study separating sanitary and storm sewers and deliver phased cost estimates within roughly a month.
Residents of Kendrick Street pressed the Mount Clemens City Commission on recurring basement flooding and property damage, saying insurance claims have been denied and pleading for immediate repairs.
"We can't keep any of our appliances ... we are living I'm squatting in my own house," said Christine Lynn Wolf of 62 Kendrick, describing multiple floods and time‑stamped video evidence she said documents the damage. Her husband, Toby Wolf, who owns properties at 62 and 76 Kendrick, said the city’s insurer, Sedgwick, issued a blanket denial "without having it done any investigation." Both asked when the city would replace an "outdated and outmoded" sewer system.
City Manager Shipman told the commission the city has directed the city engineer to study separating sanitary and storm sewers across the city and to provide phased cost estimates to accomplish that work. Shipman said he would expect the engineering schedule and cost estimate "in about the next month" and that staff would follow up with residents by email. He also urged residents to report flooding through the city's "report a problem" web link or by calling City Hall so incidents are documented.
Several commissioners acknowledged the hardship and urged patience while the study is completed. Commissioner Fortier described the problem as having "mushroomed lately" after a catastrophic rain and said the engineering study will be necessary to secure funding; Commissioner McGarity and others said the work will take time and money. Commissioners reiterated the need for residents to file formal reports rather than social‑media posts so the city can create a record for potential mitigation and funding applications.
Shipman also answered related administrative questions: the city said it is considering a residential parking zone to address downtown postal‑worker parking and later noted the Priority Waste collection contract expires on 06/18/2028. Commissioners encouraged residents to keep submitting documentation of damage and emphasized the study's findings will shape next steps.
The commission did not adopt an immediate repair contract at this meeting; instead, the city directed the engineer to produce a phased plan and cost estimate. Residents will be notified when that study is available and the commission signaled it will use the study to seek funding options and inform future decisions.
