Statement from the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash has strongly advocated with EGLE that a regional solution must be pursued to alleviate the incidents that occur as a consequence of Southeast Michigan's topography during increasingly frequent large rain events. In fact the Dequindre Interceptor is working as it should. Oakland County has repeatedly told the Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) that it cannot be expected to control severe weather events that occur across Southeast Michigan and impact multiple communities, counties and jurisdictions. Without this regional approach Oakland County, Macomb County and Southeast Michigan will continue to be faced with the prospect of sewage overflows and basement backups due to extremely heavy rainfall.

Macomb County's Public Works Commissioner is trying to create controversy where there is none - choosing to play politics and cast blame on Oakland County instead of working with the Great Lakes Water Authority on a regional solution that protects all communities in Southeast Michigan. She intentionally issues reckless press releases like she did today that are filled with inaccuracies, misinformation, and false statements. The truth is that EGLE's actions are a routine part of the regulatory process that occurs with many counties, including Macomb County and their recent Sanitary Sewer Overflows.

While it may now be politically convenient to Commissioner Miller's inflammatory approach, the fact remains that in December 2023, after the region experienced a particularly bad rain event that April, she co-signed a letter with Commissioner Nash to seek that regional solution with the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA). She has since turned her back on that, apparently, and would rather target Oakland County with inaccurate press releases to the media than come to the table and work on the regional solution she herself endorsed. That is not effective local government.

Miller does not speak for EGLE, GLWA or Oakland County on this issue. She clearly does not understand the issue given the number of false and inaccurate claims in her press release. Oakland County will continue to advocate with or without Candice Miller's assistance for a common-sense regional solution that reduces overflows and better manages the consequences of extreme weather events. Oakland County looks forward to meeting with EGLE later this month about the issues with large rain events, the current system for handling them, and the urgent need for a regional solution that protects Southeast Michigan.

Click to view the press release.

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