| Karegnondi Water Authority | |
|---|---|
| overview | |
| Formed | October 26, 2010 |
| executives | Dayne Walling, Board Chair Jeff Wright, chief executive officer[1] |
| Website | |
| karegnondi.com | |
Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA) is a governmental water agency in the Mid-Michigan and Thumb areas. Members of the Authority are Cities of Flint, Lapeer, and counties of Genesee, Lapeer and Sanilac. Karegnondi is a word from the Petan Indian language meaning "lake"[2][3] and another early name for Lake Huron.[2][4]
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For years, the City of Flint purchased Lake Huron water from the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (Detroit Water)[3] under a now expired 30 year contract.[5] Flint resold the water to Genesee County Drain Commissioner who then sold it to various municipalities in the county. Genesee County officials have disliked the high cost and usually high percentage increases of the Detroit Water which the Department's formula penalized the area for its elevation and distance from Detroit.[3] Detroit Water would never open discussions with Genesee County.[6] Sanilac County has never previously had a public water system depending on individual wells instead.[7] The City of Lapeer has been a member of the Greater Lapeer County Utilities Authority (GLCUA) which purchases water from Detroit Water.[8] Future members that are client of Detroit Water (Flint City, Genesee County and GLCUA) use 10% of the water but pay 21% of the costs.[9]
For years there has been talk amongst Genesee County officials about building a Lake Huron pipeline with 2 other plans since 1992. The current plan would build a pipeline from a 230 acre site located on the Sanilac-St. Clair County border.[10] In 2006, the Genesee County Drain Commission had a feasibility study done which reawakened talk of a new pipeline. While estimated costs of the pipeline is around $600 million, County officials indicated that an authority-owned pipeline would cost less than continued purchasing Detroit water in the long-term.[3]
In May 2007, Genesee County Drain Commissioner and Oakland County Drain Commissioner chosen the name Karegnondi Regional Water Planning Group, fore runner planning group for the Authority.[2]
Environmental groups, such as Michigan Environmental Council and the Flint River Watershed Coalition, indicated in May 2009 that they did not have any issue with the Lake Huron pipeline plan as Genesee County Drain Commission files for the need permits.[11] In June, Cheboygan County Drain Commissioner Dennis G. Lennox II indicated that he might file a lawsuit to revoke a permit to use Lake Huron water if approved by Michigan Department of Environmental Quality believing that Lake Huron' future is jeporadized.[12] In August 2009, a permit was issued in compliance with the 2008 Great Lakes Compact and Agreement by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality for the withdrawal of 85 million gallons per day of water as a public water supply for Genesee County, the City of Flint and other potential customers: the Counties of Lapeer and Sanilac and City of Lapeer.[7] Lennox filed an appeal of the issuance of the permit before the State Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules while in October Cheboygan County Board of Commissioners indicated that they were not supporting Lennox's appeal.[13] On August 17, the Lapeer City Commission unanimously voted to be active in the Karegnondi Planning Group.[10][14] Lapeer City's estimated share of the cost $100 million including a water treatment plant.[10] Late October 2009, representatives for possible authority members met to decide under which state law to form the authority under. November 5, a meeting was held regarding associated project.[13]
In March 2010, former pipeline supporter and Genesee County Drain Commissioner Ken Hardin comes out against the project based on the City of Flint's poor financial condition. Instead, he recommends that the County seek a seat on a regional water board with Detroit. Request for bids was issued by the County for testing the Lake Huron pumping station's soil.[5] On March 2, 2010, Lennox files to withdrawal his appeal of the issuance of the water permit to KWA due to limited funds.[15] Lapeer City Commission approved the articles of incorporation in early April.[8] On April 13, the Genesee County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved the articles of incorporation. The Lapeer County Board of Commissioners voted to join the authority on April 24 followed by the Lapeer City Commission and Flint City Council on April 26.[7]
On October 26, 2010,[1] the Karegnondi Board of Trustees met for the first time with representatives from the incorporating Cities of Flint (Mayor Dayne Walling), Lapeer (City Manger Dale Kerbyson), and County Drain Commissioners of Genesee (Jeff Wright), Lapeer (John Cosens) and Sanilac (Gregory L. Alexander).[3] Walling was elected chair. While Genesee County Drain Commissioner Wright was selected as the Agency's CEO and replaced on the Board by Genesee County Board of Commissioner Chair Jamie Curtis as Genesee County's representative.[1] Alexander was chosen as vice chair and Amy Planck of Lapeer County for secretary.[9] An 10 additional Trustees were to be appointed based on expected water usage.[7]
In May 2011, DTE Energy indicated an interest in buying 3 million gallons of untreated lake water daily for its Greenwood electrical plant. St. Clair County also indicated that it is considering joining the Authority, while Flint still is considering whether or not to continue as a member.[16] In June, the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department reaches out to negotiate with the KWA. Expected online date of the new pipeline is in 2015.[6] On September 7, a Rowe Engineering reported to the Flint City Council that the most expensive option was to continue with Detroit Water with the next expensive option was upgrading the City's Flint River plant for 24 hour 7 days a week operations and the least expensive option was the KWA Lake Huron pipeline.[17] With Flint place under the control of an Emergency Manager in December, the Authority wants a decision by year end on whether the City would continue with pipeline.[18]
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