Madison Heights council adopts resolution opposing 6.83% GLWA wholesale rate increase
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Summary
After public comment urging strong opposition, the Madison Heights City Council voted to adopt a resolution formally opposing the Great Lakes Water Authority's proposed fiscal-year 2027 wholesale water and sewer charges (presented as an average 6.83% increase) and agreed to forward the resolution to GLWA's board and state legislators.
A resident urged the Madison Heights City Council to take aggressive action against a proposed wholesale rate increase from the Great Lakes Water Authority, and the council adopted a resolution opposing the increase as part of its consent agenda.
Lewis Kerman, a Madison Heights resident, told the council the proposed 6.83% average increase would fall hardest on seniors, single parents and small businesses and would compound an unfunded state requirement to replace lead service lines. He urged the council to pass the resolution unanimously and forward it to state lawmakers and GLWA's board.
Mayor Haynes read the council's draft resolution during the consent-agenda review, citing GLWA's proposed fiscal 2027 water and sewer charge adjustments and noting the council does not control GLWA wholesale rates and must pass increases through to residents. The resolution states that the increases exceed GLWA's overall budget growth, would raise per-unit charges despite declining consumption, and would further strain municipalities already facing lead-service-line replacement obligations.
A motion to adopt the consent agenda (which included the GLWA resolution) was moved and seconded; council discussion included support for coordinated action with neighboring cities and encouragement for residents to contact GLWA and legislators. The motion to adopt the consent agenda carried by voice vote; council did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript.
What it means: The council's resolution formally records Madison Heights' opposition and, according to comments in the meeting, will be forwarded to GLWA's board and to state legislators representing the city. Council members urged residents to attend GLWA hearings and contact lawmakers to seek dedicated state or federal funding for lead-service-line replacement.
Next steps: Council members said they would forward the resolution to the GLWA board and to state representatives and senators; no additional local policy measures were adopted at the meeting.
