RELEASE: Gov. Whitmer Announces Partnership with THAW to Help Lower Utility Bills for Highland Park Residents

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE    

November 21, 2023   

Gov. Whitmer Announces Partnership with THAW to Help Lower Utility Bills for Highland Park Residents

Building on historic settlement the Governor brokered between Highland Park and the Great Lakes Water Authority, new assistance program will help people pay their water bills

LANSING, Mich. — Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a new residential assistance program for Highland Park in partnership with The Heat and Warmth Fund (THAW). The program will help people in need pay their water bills, an important step forward in the tentative settlement agreement brokered by the State between the city and the Great Lake Water Authority (GLWA) in October, which ended a decade-long dispute.

"To help ensure Highland Park residents can access safe, affordable drinking water, I am proud to announce a partnership with THAW to help lower bills on our path to implementing the historic settlement agreement we brokered last month,” said Governor Whitmer. "I’m thankful to THAW for raising its hand to help and to GLWA and Highland Park for working together in good faith on a deal that will ensure residents can access water, as the state helps the city with long overdue infrastructure upgrades. Since I took office, we’ve made record investments in water infrastructure and affordability. I’ll continue to work with anyone to keep rates affordable, and most importantly, keep safe water flowing to every home.”  

“I am grateful to THAW, Governor Whitmer, and the State of Michigan for coming together to ensure every resident of Highland Park can access clean, affordable drinking water,” said Highland Park Mayor Glenda McDonald. “Our community is strong, and we will work with state and local partners to fix up our infrastructure and get the job done so people can live with peace of mind in Highland Park.”

"Rising water bills are a problem affecting many Michigan households, including Highland Park. I am excited for today's announcement about a new partnership with a strong, trusted community organization, THAW," said state Senator Stephanie Chang (D-Detroit). "I am immensely grateful for the efforts of Gov. Whitmer, THAW, the City of Highland Park and GLWA to come together to address the issue of water bills for Highland Parkers who have long needed and deserved solutions. I look forward to continuing the progress in the legislature on solutions that will ensure long-term water affordability across the state."

“I am excited that the residents of Highland Park can know the community’s water infrastructure failures will be addressed. The agreement is a major win for community members, and it will pave a strong path forward for the city,” said state Representative Mike McFall (D-Hazel Park). “Furthermore, I am grateful that the spirit of collaboration in which the agreement was struck continues through this partnership with The Heat and Warmth Fund. This assistance program will be a crucial support to help residents, many of whom are elderly and on fixed incomes, afford their bills.”

Highland Park – GLWA

The water infrastructure in Highland Park is nearly 120 years old and utilizes antiquated or obsolete water mains to deliver water throughout the city. It is estimated that the city loses about 70% of its water due to inadequate infrastructure. For 10 years, Highland Park and GLWA were engaged in litigation related to approximately $55 million total in disputed water bills.

The Deal

In October, Governor Whitmer brokered a deal between GLWA and Highland Park to end their 10-year dispute over unpaid water bills. Under the agreement, the state has committed to funding historic infrastructure repairs in Highland Park and within the GLWA service area. The city and water authority are also responsible for additional commitments under their side of the agreement, including that the city set new water rates. The settlement agreement was unanimously approved by the city council, approved by GLWA’s board, and the State of Michigan. Once the settlement is finalized, ongoing lawsuits will be dismissed, including the nearly $24 million judgement against Highland Park. As a result of the settlement, the GLWA Board recently approved a plan to provide $20 million in “bad debt recovery credits” to dozens of metro Detroit municipalities that paid the city’s water and sewage bills for years.

Deal Details

The State of Michigan has committed to: 

Fund installation of master water and temporary sewer meters in Highland Park.

Fund water main and service line replacement efforts within Highland Park. 
Release a $25 million sewer infrastructure grant for GLWA that was previously appropriated. 
Fund a $5 million grant for GLWA for drinking water infrastructure. 
Revise the administrative consent order to include settlement terms under the Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE).

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