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Residents urge Mount Clemens commission to reevaluate water-plant project after cost and rate changes
Summary
At the Mount Clemens City Commission meeting, multiple residents urged the commission to reconsider the city's water-plant project after cost estimates and proposed water-rate impacts changed; city staff said project documents are posted online and that the city could still walk away from the loan if needed.
Residents pressed the Mount Clemens City Commission to reconsider its planned water-plant project after updated cost estimates and higher projected water rates were raised during public comment.
At the meeting, Patrick McKay, of 1207 Wellesley Drive, told commissioners the city's $45 million estimate appears to have fallen to about $42 million and said higher rates would disproportionately affect residents who can least afford them. "The two major issues were the $45,000,000 and the higher rates for the less able to pay in the water bills," McKay said, and urged the commission to "take a step back and reevaluate this thing." He added he would review materials now posted on the city website.
City Manager Shipman told the meeting that documents related to the water-plant project have been posted under the Utilities tab on the city's website and encouraged residents to contact the city manager's office to discuss questions or to schedule an in-person meeting. Shipman said the city has not yet received a loan for the project and reiterated that the commission could choose to walk away from the proposal if circumstances warrant.
Commissioners did not take formal action on the water-plant project at the session. Earlier in the meeting, staff also noted that some line items related to purchases and invoices showed increases that were not originally budgeted; those increases will be addressed in an upcoming budget amendment, staff said.
Why it matters: The water-plant project and any associated rate increase would affect utility bills for Mount Clemens households and the city's capital budget. Public comment at this meeting focused attention on both the project's cost and the potential distributional effects of higher water rates.
What's next: Shipman posted the project documents online and invited residents to reach out to his office. The commission has not adopted a final financing package and retains the option to delay or withdraw from the project, according to staff comments at the meeting.
