Today the Mayor of Detroit, the Water Resources Commissioner of Oakland County, the Wayne County Executive, and the Macomb County Director of Public Works organized a press conference.
Below are our notes:
- Instead of the Detroit Mayor appointing the Macomb, Wayne, and Oakland County members to the Water Board of Commissioners, each county will be able to appoint their own representative to the Board. The Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner will appoint the Oakland County commissioner. The Wayne County Executive will appoint the Wayne County commissioner. And the Macomb County Director of Public Works will appoint the Macomb County commissioner.
- Each commissioner of the Water Board will receive $250 per meeting (not to exceed $20,000 in one year).
- 7 commissioners x $250 = $1,750 per meeting
- The Water Board of Commissioners will also have three staff: one attorney, one finance person, and one engineer.
- There was no information on how much that will cost.
- Approval of water rate increases and capital expenditures must be done by a supermajority (meaning 5 out of the 7 commissioners must vote in favor).
All of this is to be implemented by April 11, 2011.
- They mentioned that they (Detroit Mayor and the three counties) are working towards dismissal of the federal court case. Their goal is for this to happen within the next six months.
Water is life. The People’s Water Board advocates for access, protection, and conservation of water. We believe water is a human right and all people should have access to clean and affordable water. Water is a commons that should be held in the public trust free of privatization. The People’s Water Board promotes awareness of the interconnectedness of all people and resources.
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