Team,
Here’s the release announcing the Flint Water Task Force. Members met this morning and had considerable
input in this. Our plan is to issue the release around 2:30 p.m. Please let me know if you have suggested
changes.
Thank you!
Dave
Gov. Rick Snyder announces Flint Water Task Force to review state, federal
and municipal actions, offer recommendations
Experts in public health, water management, environmental protection to focus on steps to
protect residents
LANSING, Mich. — Gov. Rick Snyder today announced the creation of an independent advisory task force
charged with reviewing actions regarding water use and testing in Flint and offer recommendations for future
guidelines to protect the health and safety of all state residents.
Task force members include experts in public health and medicine, water management, and environmental
protection from both sides of the aisle, and will be co-chaired by Ken Sikkema of Public Sector Consultants
and Chris Kolb, of the Michigan Environmental Council. Also serving will be Dr. Matthew Davis of the
University of Michigan Health System, Eric Rothstein, of the Galardi Rothstein Group and Dr. Lawrence
Reynolds of Mott Children’s Health Center in Flint.
“Transitioning back to the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department-Great Lakes Water Authority is a good first
step to protecting public health in Flint, but it’s not the last step,” Snyder said. “Bringing in outside experts to
evaluate our actions and help monitor and advise on potential changes to law, procedures and practices will be
key to continuing work on the comprehensive action plan and ensuring safe drinking water for all the residents
in Flint and all of Michigan.”
Snyder said the administration will fully cooperate with task force members, saying he wants an unbiased
report focusing on steps taken in the past and recommendations that could improve practices to ensure all
residents have access to safe, clean water.
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Ken Sikkema is a senior policy fellow at Public Sector Consultants, where he specializes in public finance,
environment, and energy policy. Prior to joining the firm, Sikkema served in both the Michigan House and
Senate, culminating with four years as Senate majority leader. He has also served as both an adjunct and
visiting professor at Grand Valley State University.
Chris Kolb is president of the Michigan Environmental Council, a statewide coalition of 70 environmental,
public health and faith-based nonprofit groups. Before joining the MEC, Kolb represented Ann Arbor in the
state House for six years and served six years on the Ann Arbor City Council. He has been president of the
MEC for six years.
Matthew Davis, M.D., M.A.P.P., is professor of pediatrics and internal medicine at the University of Michigan
Health System and professor of public policy at the Gerald R. Ford School at the University of Michigan, having
joined the faculty in 2000. Davis also is a professor of health management and policy at the School of Public
Health. He previously served as the chief medical executive of the Michigan Department of Community
Health/Department of Health and Human Services.
Eric Rothstein is a national water issues consultant and principal at the Galardi Rothstein Group. He served
as an independent advisor on the creation of the Great Lakes Water Authority. Rothstein also has served as
Jefferson County, Alabama’s rate consultant and municipal adviser for litigation related to the county’s
bankruptcy and issuance of $1.7 billion in sewer warrants and led strategic financial planning for the City of
Atlanta’s Department of Watershed Management. He has more than 30 years of experience in water,
wastewater and stormwater utility finance and rate-making assessments.
Lawrence Reynolds, M.D., is a pediatrician in Flint who serves as president of the Mott Children’s Health
Center. He received his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine and has been in practice
for 36 years. He has served as president of the Genesee County Medical Society and the Michigan Chapter of
the American Academy of Pediatrics. He has been honored for his humanitarian and advocacy efforts on
behalf of children from the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.
Snyder has said reconnecting with the authority is a critical step to resolving water quality issues and
addressing related health concerns. It will not immediately resolve the city’s problem with lead service lines or
aging infrastructure. It will take time for pipes in Flint to become coated with the phosphate corrosion control.
To best protect public health, state and local authorities will continue to carry out steps outlined on Oct. 2 ina
comprehensive action plan, including continued testing, the use of faucet filters and providing residents with
accurate information about steps to eliminate lead exposure. The Michigan Departments of Environmental
Quality and Health and Human Services are continuing to provide free water filters, free lead testing through
the state laboratory for Flint water customers, and hiring additional staff to conduct health exposure monitoring
for lead in drinking water.
HE
Dave Murray
Deputy Press Secretary | Executive Office of Governor Rick Snyder
Murray @ michigan gov
517-335-6397, office
“mobile
Hiigandmurray
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