STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. – The sinkhole that opened up in Fraser nine months ago is in the last phase of repairs but lingering questions remain about a lawsuit filed by the city of Sterling Heights.
In May, the city of Sterling Heights filed a lawsuit claiming its residents should not have to chip in for the repairs. The interceptor, which collapsed on Dec. 24, 2016, is owned and maintained by the Macomb Interceptor Drainage District (MIDD). Most Macomb County communities are a part of MIDD and pay for it.
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However, Sterling Heights Mayor Mike Taylor said no residents should have to pay because they already were paying to maintain it, which never happened.
"Had that work been done, I don't know, it sure seems to me like we wouldn't be in this mess right now. And that's money that the city paid. The rate payers paid to have that line inspected, maintained and repaired, and it wasn't," said Taylor in July.
A Macomb County judge the city can't sue the county, and now Sterling Heights is looking into suits against the district or the insurance companies.
The Sterling Heights State of the City address was Friday at 8 a.m. at the Macedonian Cultural Center.
You can view the full lawsuit filed in May below.
Sterling Heights Sinkhole Full Court Complaint by Clickon Detroit on Scribd
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