Updated draft of Flint Water Task Force response
- From
- David Murray
Good morning, team. Here’s a new draft of the Flint Task Force response letter incorporating suggestions from Rich.
Please let me know if there additional changes | should make, or if you think there are points that need to be included.
Our goals is to have a letter that can be shared later today.
Thank you!
Dave
Flint Water Advisory Task Force Members,
Thank you for your correspondence on Dec. 7, and, most importantly, for your hard work to promote public health and
protect our residents as we move forward. Your efforts are both respected and appreciated.
As acknowledged in your letter, we have taken many steps to address the challenges in Flint as they relate to reducing
lead exposure. | am pleased to see the progress since October, and recognize there is more work that must be done to
ensure that this progress continues.
At the state level, there has been a confluence of efforts between Michigan Departments of Environmental Quality and
Health and Human Services to coordinate with the Genesee County Health Department, local schools, and our partners
in the non-profit community.
These partners are making progress, and we know we can always strive to improve practices and communication for
continual improvement.
You make a solid suggestion about establishing a person who is independent of any one of the involved state agencies or
organizations to serve as the point person to coordinate the ongoing work. | am recommending that Harvey Hollins,
director of the Office of Urban Initiatives, carry out this effort. Harvey is well-versed in the issue and the challenges
faced by our cities and will be effective in this role. He will be assisted by senior members of our executive team to
ensure you will have the continued support and cooperation that you need. We also have retained Chris DeWitt, a
veteran communications specialist, to strengthen community outreach efforts to make sure residents have access to the
information they need.
| also support your suggestion of a dashboard to make information about our work and progress more accessible to the
Flint community. These are critical measures that can be used as we look the challenges and progress in Flint, but also
can be a part of efforts moving forward in other areas of our state. It’s important that people have confidence that we
are working to address any problems and will take the necessary actions to improve interaction among city, state and
federal agencies. We also will continue to work with the medical community to consider how we can work together on
wraparound needs of children who might experience health problems.
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People in Flint and across our state deserve safe, clean water. | want them to be confident that the water coming out of
their tap is safe for their families. And | want them to trust that their government — at all levels — is working effectively to
protect them.
| thank you again for investing your time and expertise to this vitally important effort.
Regards,
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