Midland Michigan Floods

I am not sure if we have any members in that area, Midland is about 70 miles north of me.
 
So the company that “owned” the damn lost certification on it 2 years ago and have been negligent on even coming up with a plan to make it safe. They were supposed to have turned in their plan in March and did nothing. They failed and whoever would be responsible for keeping on there ***, which would have been a second level of protection for all these tax paying citizens, also failed.:elmer:
 
In the end, there will be no single cause. Just another bureaucratic F-up. Here you have Feds pulling permits and the state calling it "fair" put against the locals wanting the lake kept high.

EGLE said failed Midland County dam in 'fair' condition after inspection in late 2018

The owner has said the state wouldn't grant required environmental permits to make repairs, because that department is essentially against putting a shovel in the ground if you might harm a worm. I can believe that, because the Macomb County Public Works Commissioner (who happens to be a Republican) cannot get approval from a Democrat-run State environmental agency for a project that keeps sewage out of Lake St. Clair because a man-made canal is now a "fish habit" (mostly invasive Asian carp).

About the only common theme is ineptitude from the state environmental department, which botched Flint and recently let the site of a Federal Clean up sit while they debated repair of a damaged roof. Guess what happened when it rained? I-696 green ooze. The years of inbred stupidity are starting to catch up.
 
In the end, there will be no single cause. Just another bureaucratic F-up. Here you have Feds pulling permits and the state calling it "fair" put against the locals wanting the lake kept high.

EGLE said failed Midland County dam in 'fair' condition after inspection in late 2018

The owner has said the state wouldn't grant required environmental permits to make repairs, because that department is essentially against putting a shovel in the ground if you might harm a worm. I can believe that, because the Macomb County Public Works Commissioner (who happens to be a Republican) cannot get approval from a Democrat-run State environmental agency for a project that keeps sewage out of Lake St. Clair because a man-made canal is now a "fish habit" (mostly invasive Asian carp).

About the only common theme is ineptitude from the state environmental department, which botched Flint and recently let the site of a Federal Clean up sit while they debated repair of a damaged roof. Guess what happened when it rained? I-696 green ooze. The years of inbred stupidity are starting to catch up.
All of this garbage is sounding very similar to the idiocy that has settled in Kalifornia. Thank God I left that shithole.
 
Unfortunately this kind of negligence is rampant across the country. How many of the tens of thousands of 60+ year old dams are ready to fail in the same manner....
 
The buck stops on top.
Seriously, he knew nothing???
Tossed his buddies under the bus.

So here's my take on it...

Flint couldn't pay for treated water from the Detroit system because they were broke... Mostly because their local government ignored getting their expenses to line up with revenue for decades.

The Emergency Manager, who must reduce costs has an idea to treat their own river water, which itself isn't a bad idea, because the Detroit water costs were/are totally out of line. There is nothing wrong with the Flint river, people fish from it. But since it isn't already treated like the Detroit source, you must do things like adjust the pH level.

Whomever was responsible for correcting the pH level (dumping in bags of phosphorus) didn't do it. That's where the trouble starts. I've yet to see THAT guy's name.

This more alkaline water now starts leaching lead from pipes. Just about any city water system built before 1940 has lead pipes. It's not an issue as long as the water isn't alkaline. GM even notified the City of Flint that their water was corroding parts and machinery, so they would be switching to the Flint Township water supply. The city does nothing. Who ignored this?

Yes, what came afterwards was bad. But it was all basically politics and lobbying. One side saw a chance to blame "evil Republicans" because they forced an Emergency manager to balance their books, (cut costs). Then the race-baiters got on board. Now all the suburban soccer moms that don't understand science and think water just magically comes out of a pipe are horrified. Now the construction and plumber's lobby group proclaims every lead pipe in the state must go... and we'll be happy to do the work.... on emergency overtime.

The whole thing is a clusterF with everybody trying to get a vote or get paid. Another black eye for Michigan and investment BTW.

I think Snyder was a sh*tbag for a lot of reasons. But I don't expect any Governor to be down at the treatment plant with a pool pH kit, testing water. Whomever was supposed to be there correcting and testing the water are the people that belong in jail, and I've yet to hear anything about THEM being held accountable.


My $.02
 
I agree with you. A lot of crap was slung on both sides.
That being said, the leader of the state should have taken the blame, not kicked the can.
That would have said a lot about his integrity.

On the other hand, running away from it DID say a lot about his lack of integrity...

I have figured out that ALL politicians are crooked. It's just a matter of degree!
Was it this bad 50, 100 years ago??
 
I have figured out that ALL politicians are crooked. It's just a matter of degree!
Was it this bad 50, 100 years ago??

No offense, but not all of them are bad. Sometimes the problem is the good ones share power with bad ones. More because I see her in action, and it's an "engineering" issue I understand, I have a lot of respect for Candice Miller, the Macomb Country Public Works Commissioner. She's been doing her level best to keep **** out of the lake, and keep the infrastructure in good shape. Her predecessor was a total crook and some pipes had gone 50-60 years without inspection. It's not a glamorous job, but it's one easy example I am aware of. The others might come to me with more time, lol...

And yes, I do think it got worse when patriotism went away in government.
 
Not about, that side, this side. You just have to get stuff done. The infrastructure has been deteriorating for a long time not just the last 15 years. Most just want to do enough to keep the job and reap the bennies.
 
Not about, that side, this side. You just have to get stuff done. The infrastructure has been deteriorating for a long time not just the last 15 years. Most just want to do enough to keep the job and reap the bennies.

You hit it on the head. Seems that the further left and right things go, the less gets done.
We, the people, pay the price!
 
I’ll bet every Detroit suburb has investigated leaving the Detroit Water Dept for an alternative over the years. All but Flint determined it wasn’t practical even as much as they hated getting screwed by DWD. Flint city council however thought differently and notified DWD they were disconnecting from their system. The Governors emergency manager oversaw this all but it wasn’t solely his call. The new source wasn’t online yet so they drew from Flint River.
GM Flint noticed immediately the water was crap as they has corrosion issues and chemical imbalance problems in the paint shop. GM is on the edge of town and was able to source water elsewhere. Ironically the current Mayor in Flint was on that city council!
 
No offense, but not all of them are bad. Sometimes the problem is the good ones share power with bad ones. More because I see her in action, and it's an "engineering" issue I understand, I have a lot of respect for Candice Miller, the Macomb Country Public Works Commissioner. She's been doing her level best to keep **** out of the lake, and keep the infrastructure in good shape. Her predecessor was a total crook and some pipes had gone 50-60 years without inspection. It's not a glamorous job, but it's one easy example I am aware of. The others might come to me with more time, lol...

And yes, I do think it got worse when patriotism went away in government.
You're right, all of them are not bad. Only the ones that as soon as they're sworn in care only about their reelection campaign. If they would only serve the people who elected them with truth and integrity they could rest on their accomplishments instead of spending millions of dollars on four years of campaigning. And yes I know our political system is so screwed up on both sides of the aisle that will never happen. Just was bored and felt like ranting a bit.
 
+1 for Candice Miller. She should be working in Lansing instead of the Gretch.
 
I’ll bet every Detroit suburb has investigated leaving the Detroit Water Dept for an alternative over the years. All but Flint determined it wasn’t practical even as much as they hated getting screwed by DWD. Flint city council however thought differently and notified DWD they were disconnecting from their system. The Governors emergency manager oversaw this all but it wasn’t solely his call. The new source wasn’t online yet so they drew from Flint River.
GM Flint noticed immediately the water was crap as they has corrosion issues and chemical imbalance problems in the paint shop. GM is on the edge of town and was able to source water elsewhere. Ironically the current Mayor in Flint was on that city council!

True.

And anything less than replacement of every pipe in the system is genocide. Brought to you by plumber's local 512™
 
Back
Top