Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
After-action: Walled Lake credits DPW and partners for fast response to water-main break; council orders communications fixes
Summary
City officials credited DPW and mutual-aid partners for fast restoration after a water-main break, and council directed staff to improve notification practices, including use of social media and targeted outreach to vulnerable residents.
City officials told the Walled Lake City Council on March 17 that rapid coordination among public works staff, the fire and police departments and partner jurisdictions helped restore water service after a multi-day water-main break.
Mayor Pro Tem Dennis O'Rourke singled out Dan Ladd and DPW staff for locating and operating a valve that reestablished service, and City Manager Dennis Witt described the sequence of notifications and mutual-aid actions. Witt and council members said email alerts and partner postings did not reach many residents quickly enough; several council members urged using the new city social-media channel for immediate updates. Witt said the city contracted with a water resource provider (WRC) and that some external contractors lacked local institutional knowledge, which complicated early responses.
Council directed staff to develop a short communications protocol tied to emergency operations, expand outreach to vulnerable residents who may not access email, and use the approved social-media feed for rapid notices. Officials said they would continue to pursue operational remedies with the regional water provider and will monitor system improvements.
