Board of Water Commissioners, Committee Meetings

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See past documenter’s reporting here: https://www.documenters.org/reporting/?agency=19
Highlights from past few meetings: Responses to the catastrophic water main break in Southwest Detroit + community questions about Lifeline Plan recertification notices, and how/ why many were kicked off the program

I am let into the zoom room in the middle of their role call. Quorum is met, meeting agenda and minutes are approved.

Public comment time!
Bryan Peckinpaugh is giving instructions on how to give comment. 3 minute limit. There is also a comment card link shared in the chat for the commissioners to follow-up.

There are no public comments. They move on to communications.

They approve an attached communication memo: RE: Small Purchases, No Competitive Bid, and Purchases Awarded through Single-Response
Solicitations

They are moving on to new business - which includes various contracts and contract amendments.
First is an amendment - 2025-72, a $25,000 increase to DWSD Contract 6005989, with Corporate Specialties, LLC to share out branded materials at outwardly facing events.
It is approved.

2nd - to approve Amendment to DWSD Contract 6005968 with Debra Pospiech, PLLC, for Legal and Consultant Services for Miscellaneous Special Projects, by adding $150,000.00 in funding.
Approved.

Next is (out of order) 2025-75: “to approve DWSD Contract 6007080 (CS-1995) with Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, Inc. dba OHM Advisors, for Stormwater Infrastructure Program Management Services, for a total contact amount not-to-exceed $18,000,000 and a term of 5 years, plus 2 one-year renewal options.”

Some discussion - this is to ensure that the city has a storm water program. The 18 million is just the commission’s portion (I’m understanding that GLWA may also pay a portion)
The motion is approved.

Next - 2025-74: to approve DWSD Contract 6007069 with Dan K’s Inc., for Soft Surface Restoration Services, for a total contract amount not-to-exceed $270,467.54 and a term of 228 days.
Discussion - this is the lowest bidder and would involve short term lead related work.

Motion 2025-74 is approved.

Next - 2025-76: to approve DWSD Contract 6007082 with Technology Digest Inc., for As-Needed GIS Support Services, for a total contract amount not-to-exceed $475,000.00 and a term of two (2) years.

Discussion - this is an IT related project, would take as built GIS information that may support other depts in the city.

Approved

Next- 2025-77: to approve DWSD Contract 6007106 with OW Investors, LLC dba MARS Company, for software licenses, maintenance, and support services, for DWSD’s Meter Test Benches, for a total contract not-to-exceed amount of $1,200,000.00 and a term of five (5) years.

Discussion: this contract would help test meters to make sure that they are working, also offers software for the test bench meter readings, allows meters to do various internal things, will share these services with other cities like Hamtramck and Dearborn.
Approved.

Next - 2025-78: “…to approve DWSD Contract 6007107 with the US Army Corps of Engineers, for the Design and Construction Assistance for the Detroit Lead Service Line Cutting Project, for a 25% percent cost to DWSD for a total contract amount not-to-exceed $1,000,000 and a term of one year”

Marqaicha Welch has been providing context for these. She shares that this project would remove damaged lines to ensure that no polluted water goes back into the residents’ water lines. The board is covering only 25% of this project.
This would also require mayor and city council approval.

A question if this is happening across the country, Sam Smalley shares that DWSD wrote a letter to the army corps asking them for assistance. Smalley says that Detroit is one of the first to ask for this support under this particular program developed by the Biden admin.
Motion approved.

Moving on to agenda item G: 2025-79 - the financial report.
Istakur Rahman is presenting.

The notes at the top of the presentation give some highlights from the numbers comparing to last month. It sounds like most of the numbers are consistent.

Residential collection rates increased to 86.1% from 73.5% in December. I wonder why the big increase? Could this be related to the average 5.9% hike for water in Feb ‘25 or is this the percentage of users who paid? https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2025/03/21/detroit-water-department-proposes-watersewer-rate-increase-of-3-5/82596278007/

No changes to the planing calendar.
No other matters.
Next Board meeting is May 7th.
Meeting is adjourned at 1:37 pm.

Next Water Commissioners Committee Meeting is the Capital Improvement Program and Operations Committee starting in a few minutes at 1:45 pm

in the meantime

Capital Improvement Program and Operations Committee roll call happening now at 1:45 pm.
Quorum is met.
Chair Commissioner Lane Coleman is leading.
Agenda and minutes are approved.

There are no hands raised so they move on from public comment to Communication - none, Unfinished business- none. New business CIP FY 26-30 Budget presented by: Istakur Rahman
2025-2026 capital budget for both sewer and water is: 274.9 million 💰

Most funds come from grants - Rahman

(water) 16.5 million for lead service line replacement and 18.1 million for water main replacement projects.
(sewer) 60 mllion for alley service project

Rahman - these numbers are anticipated but there is some uncertainty as far as what will be received re. the current administration’s cuts

Next - 2025-83: “approves the proposed 5 year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) for… 2026 to 2030 for the Water Supply System in the amount of $542,350,000 and for the Sewerage Disposal System in the amount of $819,040,000, respectively… “

2025-83 cont. “…and the Fiscal Year 2026 Capital Budget for the Water Supply System in the amount of $115,260,000 and for the Sewerage Disposal System in the amount of $159,650,000, respectively”

Approved unanimously

No changes to the planning calendar.
No other matters.
Next meeting is May 7th.
Meeting is adjourned at 1:57 pm.

Next meeting: Customer Service Committee is in 15 minutes at 2:15
Guess another stretch is in order

Roll call at 2:15 pm
Quorum met
Chair Mary Blackmon is leading
Agenda and minutes are approved.
There are a few hands raised for public comment.

1st speaker - is from We the People of Detroit expressing that they continue to be concerned about enrollment into the Lifeline Plan program. Some are being denied and they are unable to give answers about why. https://www.wethepeopleofdetroit.com/

Speaker is sharing some numbers that may demonstrate some openness for new customers. Questions are: Is there availability to enroll based on the numbers in the customer service report?
Chair says they will respond after all public comments.

Next speaker is an attorney and policy leader from We the People of Detroit expressing residents concern of water shut offs. Some who were booted from the Lifeline Plan received no notification. Says there needs to transparency so community knows exactly what’s happening and why.

Speaker continues asking if people can’t afford their water bills, they can’t afford their arrears.

Next speaker is a director at Hydrate Detroit. Asking that no water is shut off this year. Says that he is offering his collaboration and wanted to work with the board in a way that didn’t instill fear and other issues. Wants water amnesty for the city of Detroit. https://www.hydratedetroit.org/

Next speaker works with We the People of Detroit as well - reiterating concerns about residents being cut off of Lifeline Plan and not understanding why. Says After calling, they were told that they are not accepting recertifications or new applicants at this time.

cont. - If people have budgeted their lives around this plan, how are they supposed to afford their bills? Wants a response so they can communicate with residents who are worried that their water will be shut off.

Closing public comment.
Chair says that they will address the concerns during the meeting. Hopes they can clear up misunderstanding.
Matthew Phillips offers to respond now.

Phillips - DWSD does not make the determination of eligibility for Lifeline Plan. Says it’s determined by Wayne Metro, they use an eligibility used by the state of MI called Empower based on income, household size, and all of the docs that they need. If docs aren’t submitted, can’t approve.

Chair Blackmon responds asking for clarity around what is the confusion between what advocates are saying and what Phillips is saying.
Gary Brown asks if this is a new system.
Phillips - it has been around for 24 months. As far as he’s concerned it’s same they use for DTE assistance programs too

Commissioner Jane Garcia requests that Phillips meet with Wayne Metro to ask some follow-up questions in order to share more clear information to customers around process, application, and information.
Phillips- says that they have continually shared that funding has been exhausted.

Phillips - “I’ll say it as loud as I can - funding is exhausted”

Phillips - there is no additional funds coming from the state of MI. Says he heard unfortunate information that entire staff from federal department that has been around since 1980s (I missed the name it was related to housing and Phillips says was a “big brother” program to the state water program)

Phillips - Says that DSWD does not create a list on who is eligible or not. That this list is created by Empower.
Commissioner Forte - asks for clarification of funding related to recertification opportunity in the Lifeline Plan.
Phillips - yes, there are no funds for recertifications or new users

Commissioner Garcia - asks that this information is shared more clearly with community to ensure that they understand that the funding from state is exhausted.
Chair Blackmon says that the info is being given over & over but “it’s not being accepted”. Says all they can do is state facts

Commissioner Forte - question about arrearages for those on program.
Phillips - says that “you would think that”… there wouldn’t be arrearages if you are on the Lifeline Plan. However there are many.

Gary Brown says that arrearages are cleared when someone is approved to the program but the 1 million in arrearages from this program is from those who aren’t making the 18 dollars. Says that they can get the board the numbers of those on the program that are behind and/or have never made a payment

Commissioner Garcia says that “they are doing everything they can” and these numbers are important because it shows they’ve attempted to help and it would go back on the residents.

Phillips - making the offer that if any of the people that spoke today “did what they were supposed to” but were still denied, he can support.
Also - residents can make a formal appeal that something was wrong. They can do so through the Empower program. Wayne Metro can offer that assistance.

Ps- Matthew Philips is Chief of Staff and Customer Service Officer at Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.

Kimberly Crowell is presenting now. They’ve had 66,350 customer touch points total for the month of March

Crowell - Customer Satisfaction has exceeded goal for 19 straight months.

They received 6,519 calls about EasyPay which is a program “for Detroit residents that experience difficulty in paying past due water and sewerage bills.” More info and sign-up: https://detroitmi.gov/departments/water-and-sewerage-department/dwsd-customer-service/dwsd-here-help-water-assistance-programs/dwsd-easypay-plan

Crowell - They receive on average 1400 calls per day and they have exceeded that for the month of March. (I wonder if that is related to the Lifeline Plan concerns)
Moving on to Phillips presenting on the Planning Calendar.

Phillips - Since the Southwest Water Main Break (6 weeks ago) DWSD has:

Phillips - they hired 16-18 people to address this issue.
Director Gary Brown - thinks they will have to do something special for the people involved in this project. “There is not a project he’s prouder of”

Director Brown - they also gave 400+ customers a 2 month credit so they didn’t have to pay a water bill.
Also wants to level set the expectations for Lifeline - says it would take 200 million dollars to support everyone they had in Lifeline last year.

Dir. Brown says that in the coming weeks, he and water advocates will be in Lansing for “Water Week” to advocate for funds. He says they won’t stop fighting in Lansing and in Washington for funds for Lifeline. However, right now they have to live within their budget.

No new matters.
Meeting is adjourned at 3:14 pm.
Moving quickly to Human Resources and Organizational Committee.
No time to stretch! 😱

Agenda and Minutes are approved.
Public comment -
1st speaker Director of Hydrate Detroit (same speaker as last meeting) wants to respond to the conversation occurring before. Expressing frustration with being told that people aren’t paying their $18 but there are no numbers.

No more hands, moving on from Public Comment.
Patricia Thornhill presenting on HR metrics.
Headcount is climbing in relation to previous years.
They employee more Detroit residents than non.

Here are some option positions within DWSD

Thornhill - They actually have other positions available however for a cost cutting measure related to responding to the Southwest water main break, they put a hiring freeze on those for now.

Thornill - they spoke at the National Association of Black Women in Construction and some of the participants were very interested in their work

That presentation was held at the Detroit Job Corps Center: https://detroit.jobcorps.gov/

They are welcoming Natasha Hooten as their new Environmental Health and Safety Manager.

Thornhill - there were a total of 16 injuries by 12 people. Safety team is required to investigate these injuries to ensure they don’t happen again.

They broke it down by body part. I see a few reported for back, wrist, ankle, etc.

Next meeting May 7th.
Meeting is adjourned at 3:38 pm.

Chair Jonathan Kinloch starting the next committee meeting: Legal and Government Affairs.
Agenda and minutes are approved.
Moving to Public Comment - there is 1 hand raised.

1st speaker is the director of Hydrate Detroit (same from before). Uplifts concerns regarding the flood in Southwest Detroit. Says City Council public comments reflect a huge concern from other residents on where their help is after their floods in 2016.

cont. says he has a list of residents who were not given the funds needed to cover the repairs in 2016 floods. Points out discrepancies around showing up for one community and not another.

They’ve moved through items 2025-84 (Communication on DWSD FOIA Report) and 2025-85 (Litigation Report - Office of the General Counsel) very quickly. Didn’t quite catch what happened there. Here’s some screenshots of their litigation report attached in their agenda.

Meeting Adjourned at 3:46 pm.

Phew! Five “mini” meetings in a row calls me to a BIG stretch.
This concludes my live reporting of the #Detroit Board of Water Commissioners Committee meetings. For more meeting coverage, check out https://documenters.org.

‼️ Important! If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, email documenters@outliermedia.org with “Correction Request” subject line. Thank you in advance!