Board hears presentation on 120-inch water main break: event history, GLWA response and timeline for repair.
Hello Detroit and southeast Michigan! At 2 p.m. I’ll live-tweet the @glwatermi Board of Directors meeting for #DETdocumenters. 🧵
Our partners: @DetDocumenters, @BridgeDet313, @chalkbeatDET, @Detour_Detroit, @freep, @media_outlier, @metrotimes, @PlanetDetroit and @wdet.
11:06 AM Aug 24, 2022 CDT
Join online, by phone or in person: https://www.glwater.org/event/board-of-directors-55/
We’ll have notes and more: https://detroit.documenters.org/assignments/board-of-directors-4348/
📎 Agenda! I may refer to numbered items: https://glwater.legistar.com/MeetingDetail.aspx?ID=917795&GUID=3EF1E83A-94AB-4988-8C7D-1D1E16A8F133&Options=info|&Search= https://t.co/7EXu1ISbK6
🏃 See our past reporting on utilities: https://detroit.documenters.org/reporting/?tags=21
Paul covered this recent GLWA meeting: https://twitter.com/PauldubbWarner/status/1557381277560487936
🗞 @GovWhitmer declared a state of emergency in Lapeer, Macomb, Oakland and St. Clair counties after a major water main break was discovered. A boil water advisory, declared for a number of communities, has since been lifted. @dorothy_lynn_h reported: https://wdet.org/2022/08/14/whitmer-declares-state-of-emergency-in-several-counties-after-glwa-water-main-break/
Repairs for GLWA’s 120-inch water main have been delayed, affecting at least 20 metro Detroit communities. Officials originally estimated a three-week timeline, but a manufacturer has yet to deliver a replacement pipe. @cassidyjohncox has the latest: https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2022/08/23/pipe-delivery-delayed-at-water-main-break-site-in-metro-detroit-could-set-back-repair-timeline/
Highland Park must pay $21 million in debt to GLWA, according to a recent court ruling. The water authority praised the decision, but city council member Rodney Patrick said it might “eradicate” Highland Park altogether. @j_e_n_a_b has much more: https://www.bridgedetroit.com/appeals-court-rules-highland-park-must-pay-water-debt/
Last month, GLWA denied over 24,000 damage claims from the summer floods of 2021. The water authority blamed the heavy rainfall for basement flooding and stated they are not liable. Lawsuits against GLWA continue. @ninaignaczak brought the story: https://planetdetroit.org/2022/07/glwa-denies-all-flood-claims-from-2021-lawsuits-will-continue/
At this meeting, the board will discuss the water main break: https://glwater.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5768985&GUID=43F56359-A491-4AB1-830B-44CEC9125540&Options=&Search=
They’ll also recognize the court ruling on Highland Park’s water debt and discuss it in a closed session: https://glwater.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5768951&GUID=3F1509DA-C289-47C1-BFAC-D34C90E4EC06&Options=&Search=
❓ The Board of Directors makes GLWA’s long-term decisions. They’re appointed by Detroit’s mayor (@MayorMikeDuggan), the governor and executives of Macomb (@MarkHackel), Oakland (@davidwcoulter) and Wayne (@CountyExecEvans) counties. They meet monthly.
Your appointed GLWA board members (and what they represent):
• @JayeQuadrozzi, chair (Oakland)
• @fremanhendrix, vice chair (Detroit)
• Brian Baker, secretary (Macomb)
• @DrBeverly_GoMCC (state)
• @GaryBrownDET (Detroit)
• John Zech (Wayne)
🚩 Need image descriptions? Reply and I’ll describe images for you.
Found something inaccurate? Email documenters@outliermedia.org with the subject “Correction Request.” I’ll add corrections at the end.
See y’all at 2 p.m.! Watch for the DETdocumenters hashtag.
We’re either hearing an avant-garde tap dance performance or a GLWA staff member’s crisp mouse clicks. All good either way, though I’d be interested in seeing the former.
⌚️ At 2:01 p.m., the GLWA Board of Directors meeting starts! #DETdocumenters
👤 Roll call! All are present except chair Quadrozzi and secretary Baker — the secretary says they’re on excused absence.
It’s kind of difficult to hear vice chair Hendrix. https://t.co/Bh0TxHBxkv
Someone wants to remove agenda items 9A (apprenticeship presentation) and closed session item 14B (personnel evaluations) since some board members need the meeting to end earlier. They approve removing these items, and approve the rest of the agenda.
The board approves all the consent matter items, which includes minutes, communications and new business items.
📣 At 2:05 p.m., the board proceeds to hear public comments! The agenda says each commenter will get three minutes to speak. No speakers arrive in-person or online to make comment.
✉️ At 2:06 p.m., the board proceeds to communications. Just one item: A written public comment. The commenter asked, “How is GLWA addressing the departures of so many of its employees? … It seems as though GLWA is losing senior level employees at an alarming rate.” …
The commenter is also concerned with the use of more expensive consultants. “I do not believe it is financially prudent to pay consultants four times the amount for the service a internal employee could contribute.” https://glwater.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5762779&GUID=91154CA3-2224-4FC8-9062-FDFAF3C2EB52&Options=&Search=
That communication was spoken into the record and the board approves filing it.
💼 At 2:08 p.m., the board proceeds to new business. They’ll discuss the water main break and the Highland Park court ruling. The board will also amend contracts with 14 municipalities, including Hamtramck, Allen Park, Ferndale and Oak Park. https://t.co/QtDKvxr6u7
Porter says they detected the main break through monitoring water flow levels. She shows two maps that mark areas with low or no water pressure, and lists the 23 impacted municipalities. On the day of the break, at 3 p.m., they were able to mitigate impacts to 10 communities. https://t.co/DIjRnckFlo
Cheryl Porter says that 133,000 people are still affected by the reduced service. She also explains GLWA’s minimum water pressure limit, and photos of the main break location. https://t.co/zDOkVha4Vn
Porter said the replacement pipe arrived on Monday, but it “wasn’t quite enough pipe.” GLWA placed orders with many pipe manufacturers “across the country.” https://t.co/PDBTG6mEGH
Porter says they’re taking this opportunity to inspect the rest of the main pipe. GLWA crews found more damage than expected. At the moment, they’re working to remove the damaged pipe. https://t.co/nWSv9lYSXQ
She thanks the staff at several pump stations that have helped restore flow to some communities. GLWA has also deployed water trucks to distribute water to communities without any water. https://t.co/D4IOy1OLQs
Porter mentions their advisory to conserve water in impacted communities. They were able to lift a boil water advisory last Friday. …
She says she heard this morning that “one section of the pipe is on the road” but they’re still waiting for a specialized “bevel pipe.” She hopes it will arrive this weekend.
Answering questions from the board, Porter says the pipe connecting to Imlay City is 50 years old. There was one previous break in the 1980s. She says they notify the public of water main breaks through emails and phone calls.
Still answering the board’s questions: Porter says the additional damage that crews discovered could be a number of issues, but it has not been specifically identified. …
To prevent future breaks, Porter says they will publish an action report sometime in the next 30 days, to be shared with GLWA’s member-partner water systems.
As usual with the GLWA board, they don’t announce each other’s names and I can’t identify most of the people who are speaking. Plus, the camera does not always show the speaker.
Board member Hendrix presses Porter on whether if GLWA has identified further risks and a plan of action. Porter tries to reassure him.
Porter mentions that a pipe will arrive on Sep. 3.
Porter answers a question from board member Zech: GLWA has contracts with pipe manufacturers to have pipes on hand. Daniel Edwards joins the meeting to say that they have a contract with Soul Source. …
Porter says the first replacement pipe came from Texas, while the second pipe is coming from Illinois.
📝 Now a report on the Highland Park debt ruling. Someone (a member of GLWA’s legal counsel?) says this is a “positive step” to paying back GLWA and other communities. He says the ruling was “expedited” and it “wasn’t a standard motion.” Highland Park has until Sep. 18 to appeal.
To progress on the court ruling, GLWA awaits the lifting of a stay that has been in place for years. The speaker says “interest is accruing” for Highland Parks water debt, amounting to over $3 million. “It does help with the costs.” … https://t.co/B9moccArFf
Hendrix asks if they’ve been able to recover legal fees — the speaker says no.
Lots of engineering and legal jargon, my weak suits, being used at this meeting.
Board members don’t have anything to say about the rest of the new business items.
📝 At 2:40 p.m., the board proceeds to CEO Suzanne Coffey’s report. https://glwater.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5769054&GUID=BD7C4682-A39B-424E-99BE-450BF053BB99&Options=&Search=
Regarding the water main break, Coffey says they’ve held a number of site tours for media and public officials. She says they’re committed to updating both groups and the public, daily, and that she’s been in a dozen interviews. “We can’t over-communicate on this thing.”
Coffey gives a shout-out to GLWA’s water quality group, field services, systems control center group, public affairs and IT for their work on the water main break. https://t.co/xwcp4gEUal
Coffey says she’s “very happy” with the outcome of the Highland Park court case.
She also says they’ve been working to improve GLWA’s credit rating, which has been upgraded. She attributes this to “stable revenue” and “strong partnerships” with member-partners.
That’s it for CEO Coffey’s report. Board member Zech is happy with the work done on the main break. The board approves to receive and file the report.
The board now deliberates over going into closed session. The agenda says they will discuss the Highland Park court case with their general legal counsel. The legal counsel staff member also says he has an attorney-client communication to share with the board.
After two roll-call votes for both these items, they approve going into closed session.
🔒 At 2:50 p.m., the board approves going into closed session. The public is allowed to stay in the online meeting. https://t.co/L7w13t7yBQ
Pretty quick meeting! It’s much shorter and more digestible than the one I attended last month.
Those photos of the broken water main are fascinating.
⏪ Not sure if I posted these images of Porter’s presentation. More photos from the water main site. https://t.co/cbb2jgIwXM
On the agenda, all that’s left after this closed session is the adjournment of the meeting. I’ll stick around until then, of course, just in case the board has any surprises.
🔓 At 3:07 p.m., the board returns from their closed session. Board member Hendrix asks if anybody has anything else to discuss. Nothing. https://t.co/f3GRE7UggH
⏱ At 3:08 p.m., the board adjourns the meeting!
GLWA’s next public meeting is this Friday’s Audit Committee meeting: https://www.glwater.org/event/audit-committee-60/
That’s my live coverage of this Great Lakes Water Authority Board of Directors meeting. Thank you, everyone!
You can become a documenter and discover more about your local government at @DetDocumenters: https://detroit.documenters.org/
Read these tweets on Mastodon (@civicDetroitDan@a2mi.social): https://a2mi.social/@civicDetroitDan/108878601867151290
Corrections may follow below.