HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. – The Great Lakes Water Authority and the city of Highland Park have entered a tentative agreement over unpaid water bills.
Last week, Highland Park City Council approved a tentative deal for resolution with the help of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer.
Now that GLWA’s board of directors has approved, all ongoing lawsuits will be dismissed, including the $24 million judgment.
Highland Park paid GLWA $1 million of its water bill in June.
“The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) Board of Directors today approved the term sheet that represents the initial step in a proposed agreement between the Authority, the city of Highland Park, and the state of Michigan. Once fully executed, the agreement would bring to conclusion a multi-decade billing dispute between GLWA (previously DWSD) and Highland Park. The term sheet can be found here.
The proposed settlement has three main pillars that not only provide much-needed assurances from Highland Park but also support a fresh start with the GLWA-Highland Park relationship. These three pillars are: payment assurances from Highland Park, investment in capital improvements in the Highland Park and GLWA systems by the State; and the addition of metering to create confidence that Highland Park is being billed equitably for their use of the regional system.
GLWA thanks Governor Whitmer, the state of Michigan, and the city of Highland Park for moving us forward to this proposed agreement. While much work remains, all parties agree that this agreement represents a new and collaborative beginning to our working relationships."
Great Lakes Water Authority