Belleville, VBT sign disputed Downriver Sewer Agreement

On Monday, March 16, the Belleville City Council voted unanimously to sign the new 20-year Downriver Sewage Disposal System Service Agreement.
On Tuesday, the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees also voted unanimously to sign the document.
All 13 communities must sign the agreement for it to be passed. Others had it on their agendas this week. The Wayne County Commission voted 14-0, with one absent, to approve the agreement last September.
After he took office, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans sent out a letter in February revoking the agreement since all 13 communities hadn’t approved it yet.
The letter brought backlash from the communities and the county commission. Evans said he regretted sending the letter, according to VBT attorney Patrick McCauley, but Evans did not back down on the county’s claim of ownership.
The communities claim ownership, as well, since they have paid millions of dollars over the years for the facility since 1962.
Mayor Kerreen Conley said if this agreement is approved it will give the communities leverage and extra leverage if the county gets an Emergency Manager.
State Rep. Kurt Heise has introduced HB 4033 that would require approvals of all the owners if a water system is to be sold or leased. A March 25 noon committee meeting has been set in Lansing to consider the bill.
Mayor Conley said State Rep. Kristy Pagan supports the communities.
McCauley said Wayne County is working to scuttle the bill.
Besides Belleville and VBT, the others signing the agreement so far were Dearborn Heights, Southgate, Taylor, and Wyandotte. It’s on the agenda this week in Brownstown, River Rouge, and Allen Park.
Conley said Riverview and Romulus have issues, with Romulus’ issues having to do with the nuances of having an airport.
Another meeting with Wayne County will be scheduled soon with the communities, McCauley said.
He said the county confirmed it has not used money from the Downriver system to balance its books. The county did it before and had to pay it back with interest.