Article content
The state of Michigan is stepping in to oversee property repairs at 1,900 homes in Flint where water pipes have been inspected or replaced but the grounds remain in disarray. The city was found in civil contempt for missing deadlines to complete the work, stemming from a water switch in 2014 that contaminated the drinking water with lead.
10,000 to 11,000 lead or galvanized steel pipes have been replaced under a lawsuit settlement, but 1,900 homes still require property repairs, such as broken driveways and sidewalks and torn-up lawns, according to NRDC attorney Sarah Tallman.
In response, the state has offered to take over managing the repairs to ensure completion and has agreed to cover any additional costs. The total remaining work is estimated to exceed $4.75 million, with funding from state and federal governments.
Flint welcomes the state’s intervention, recognizing the urgency to finish the project that has been delayed for years. The city has not fully met its obligations, and the goal now is to bring closure to the issue. Flint switched back to a Detroit-area water supplier in 2015.
Follow Ed White on Twitter: https://twitter.com/edwritez
Share this article in your social network