The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1944-03-16
County Wary
Of Wafer Plan
Spectre Of Past
Clouds Network

Recalling the depression spec
tire Of tax-burdened, homeless
subdivisions completely equip
ped with water, sewers, side
walks and elaborate entrance
gates. but non-productive of
anything but bankruptcy, the
county Board of Supervisors at
its latest meeting Indicated its
unwillingness to 90 into the
business Of promoting a county
wide water distribution system.
Approached by a representa-
tive of the Michigan Department
of Health, who outlined an opti-
mistic plan for extension of De-
troit, or Mount Clemens water
mains to areas now served by in
adequate we'll systems, super
visors indicated their waryness
of any such plan by the ex-
pressed criticism.
The informative discussion of
the proposal, offered by Ray
mond j. Faust, chief of the water
supply division, Bureau of En-
cheering, Michigan Department
of Health, was offered at Fri
days board meeting. No decision
was asked by Faust, who said he
only sought to offer the board
suggestions for postwar plan
ming, along health, sanitation
and higher property valuation
lines.
Faust pointed out that areas
such as Warren Township, Cen
ter Line, East Detroit, Roseville
and st. Clair Shores are now
partially provided with water,
through FART inadequate
water main system branching
out from Detroit. Areas lying
Immediately north of this South
Macomb belt, yet not sufficient
ly close for Mount Clemens
water supply, are deprived of
water because the southern
areas cannot ("nor can they be
expected to") furnish larger
mains to carry additional water
northward.
In other words, it is a county
problem, Faust said, which can
be solved under Public Act 342
of 1899, which provides for the
county 10 90 into the water sup
ply business by selling revenue
bonds. Such a plan would be
administered by the Drain Com
missioner.
The speaker, using a county
map showing existing Detroit
water mains. including Harrison,
Chesterfield and areas adjoining
Mount Clemens in his proposals;
suggesting that Mount Clemens,
which now supplies a portion of
Harrison Township, 60 into the
water-supply business on a larg-
er scale.
Mount Clemens supervisors at
the meeting pointed out that the
city is now providing Is per cent
of its output outside the incor-
porated area, which is its limit
set by the state. The plant ca
pacity is now so close to the
limit, a speaker said, that any
extensive plan for water supply
elsewhere in the district would
be beyond the capacity Of the
filtration plant.
Supervisor Harold Lindsey,
city assessor of Mount Clemens,
roundly criticized the coun-
tywide water main plan. He
said.
Principal cause of the last
depression, especially in this
area was the premature and ex-
travagant development of SUBJ
urban land, as result of which
Macomb County and its citizens
lost uncounted thousands of dol
lars, and 100000 lots were re-
moved from the tax rolls"
Right today there are thou
sands of properties in Lake and
other townships with water
mains, sidewalks, sewers and
roads around them-and no one
living there" Lindsey said.
Supervisor Stephen r. Hender-
son, city clerk Of East Detroit,
reiterated Lindsey's contention.
He discussed the Federal Works
Administration attitude in re-
spect TO water mains on land
where housing projects are to be
granted. Given the choice of
thousands of lots long equipped
with water mains in East Detroit,
for a housing project, the FWA
ignored the improved lots and
approved the construction on
lots that did not have water
mains, Henderson said.
In general comment follow
ing, supervisors showed reluct-
ance to even consider putting
the rAtntx, -, Ill ,.Stz. -.-t..