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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Absolutely. | think that is Jarrad’s recommendation to the Gov also but he'll have to confirm that. it's worth noting that
Wayne Workmari met with Natasha Henderson (the city manager we put in and a less than stellar choice) and told her
that she needs to find an accommodation with the Mayor or she’s out. By the way, Wayne Workman announced his
retirement yesterday effective Feb. 1, so the guy who is the mast knowledgeable and most talented Treasury bureaucrat
we have (alongside of whizbang Tom Saxton} is quitting. That is a heck of a hole te fill, so we need to encourage Torn to
stay (he's wavering}.
A, come on, just throw thern under the bus one tire... McBride reports that at the meeting this morning in DC that
Kildee and Stabeniow ganged up to throw the state under the bus...
Overall it works for me.
Although, just add some urgency/compassion.
® We warntto ensure that there are no complications or interruntions in Flint residents receiving water fram
GWLA, so we are taking steps immediately wire the money te the city, They should have all of the state funds
within a business day or twa.
Importance: High
So scunieds like based on conf call that was just fae, that for same reason the city did indeed agree to all up front.
Clearly don’t want to throw city under the bus as that’s cartainly not going help situation, but since having them do that
tous as has already started, clease see below bullets. Fact based and shows state’s immiuadiate action to again heli
address. Work? Any cornmcerns ar changes?
* The initial agreement and understanding was for rnonthiy payrnents.
# lLinbeknownst to the state, the city entered inte an arrangement for one upfront sum and payment.
e Now that we are aware of this and have confirmed that final arrangement, the state is taking steps to immediately
wire the rnoney to the city. They should have all of the state funds within a business day or two.
Piease weigh in ASAP.
xxxEND_PAGE:executiveofficeemails21_b0582_1391_1393_1
Thanks much,
Sw
Thanks much ~ that was the fast i had knew and understood too about how was supposed to work.
dust trying to either correct and nin in bud ASAP before this gets cut of hand.
But also iraperative that we have facts first.
B.S.
Have also talked with Treasury arid SBO teams and they’re looking into from their respective ends as well.
Thanks much ~ that was the last | had knew and understood too about haw was supposed to work,
Just trying to either correct and nip in bud ASAP before this gets out of hand,
But also imperative that we have facts first.
p.3.
Have also talked with Treasury and SBO teams and they're looking into frorn their respective ands a3
well.
Per Tom, you may also want to more directly note that DWSD terminated the contract with Flint, rather than to say “as
the contract with DWSD expired in April 2014...” in the 5 paragraph.
| know that no one is going to want te do this, but | don’t feel that itis unfair for Darnell ta set the record straight. This
should be a decision for the G, Jarrod and Ban, however, my guess is that Darnell is not going to quietly accept the abuse
of the Flint peoole without having his voice heard.
Conners < an.goy>; Saxton, Thomas (Treasury) <&:
<k ‘s>; Stanton, Terry A. (Treasury) <
We thigan.gov>; Wurfel, Sara (GOV) <¥Yur
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Conners Saxton, Thomas (Treasury) <Saxton?@imichizen go>; Khouri, Nick (TREASURY)
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frodowsh: @datral
1
xxxEND_PAGE:executiveofficeemails21_b0284_0597_0598_1
axigav>; Stanton, Terry A. (Treasury) <Stariter PO michigan.gov>; Workman, Wayne (TREASURY)
ichigan.gov>; Wurfel, Sara (GOV) <Wurfelsdimichivan.sov>; Murray, David (GOV)
MEL LS ore>; Kelly Rossman-McKinney <kre
ATT00002.htm; Letter to Wolfson Final.pdf; ATTO00003.htm
It would probably be helpful if you could get GLWA's attention to acknowledge this GCDC request.
Begin forwarded message:
Request
cette Not Responsive == Shes the one who told me in late July
“that the city did not to have any part in delivering the 1500 filters we eourell because their position was that the
water was safe to drink. She is also the one to shoot down the firm the Rich got to come to Lansing to present
new technology to treat the water by using far less chemicals the city was currently using. Smh
Best,
Harvey
1 know you've had enough email traffic on this, but for what it’s worth, Daddow thinks the number will be lower as a
result of GM removing themselves from the system.
we lst the narnes we'll undoubtedly miss someone, Great idea, but i don’t think it wil work. For instance, the kids ir
the Bay County districts are raising money for water purchases in the schools and you wouldn't want to leave them
out. The Health Endowment Fund really daesn’t deserve a lot of credit but theyll want it anyway, etc., ate.