Official Promises Thorough Investigation Into Flint Water Crisis

“We’re here to investigate what possible crimes there are, anything [from] involuntary manslaughter or death that may have happened to some young person or old person because of this poisoning, to misconduct in office”, said Todd Flood, the special counsel for the state attorney general’s office who is in charge of the investigation.

There are separate federal and state investigations into any laws were broken in the crisis, which began with a cost-cutting switch from Detroit’s water system to water from the Flint River in April 2014.

The decision to switch to the Flint River, planned as a temporary cost-cutting move while awaiting completion of the new Karegnondi Water Authority pipeline to Lake Huron, was made while the City of Flint was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager.

Mayor Karen Weaver said the $55 million project could begin within a month. He said $25 million of the Flint funding would replace 5,000 known old lead lines running from city streets to houses, calling it a “seed investment” until the state has a better handle on just how numerous pipes there are.

Also, recently-revealed emails showed that MI officials trucked clean water into government buildings in Flint for state employees in January 2015, a full year before providing safe water to Flint residents. The plan would require collaboration between federal agencies and state officials, even though it’s the state that many have blamed for Flint’s water crisis. “I can’t use the water for nothing”.

The city and state developments come as Michigan’s congressional delegation has sought infrastructure as well as health and nutritional assistance for lead exposure in Flint.

The Republican governor and state legislature have already fully or partially appropriated more than $65 million in emergency funds for Flint since acknowledging the city’s water crisis. Flint Administrator Natasha Henderson told city council members Monday, Feb. 8 the recent proposal to give Flint $30 million against the water bills would not be enough, and would only help keep the city’s water fund financially solvent until the end of this year. Lead can be toxic and children are especially vulnerable.

Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday is expected to request an additional $195 million to bring back safe drinking water to Flint and treat its impacted residents after highly corrosive water drawn from the Flint River leached lead throughout the city’s drinking water system, according to a person familiar with the budget.

It’s unclear how soon any of the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund financing could be issued to help Flint replace its service lines. She said that could force water service shutoffs to resume, The Flint Journal reported, and at least $60 million is needed.

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette is holding a roundtable meeting today on the ongoing Flint water investigation. “We’re not going to do anything but find the truth and then make a determination”, said Schuette.