Nearly 800 residents and business owners from Midland, Gladwin, and Saginaw Counties have signed a letter demanding that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer address the state’s role in the catastrophic Edenville Dam failure that devastated their communities five years ago.
The disaster, which struck on May 19, 2020, caused over $200 million in damages and forced more than 10,000 residents to evacuate.
Despite a recent favorable Court of Claims ruling allowing victims to pursue legal action against the state, affected residents say they’re still waiting for a “meaningful” resolution.
Personal Stories of Loss
The letter details several devastating personal accounts of that day.
Denny and Kathy Sian, owners of Sanford Hardware, suffered over $1 million in damages rebuilding their family business, which has served as a community cornerstone for decades.
Chad Keyes, who suffers from a condition causing blindness, lost his home during renovation to make it accessible. Now unable to rebuild due to safety restrictions, Keyes struggles with mortgage payments while unable to work.
“Everybody feels bad that this happened, but what about taking responsibility? We are still here and we are still waiting,” said Darla Ball, who lost two apartment buildings and her home in the disaster. The buildings were intended to provide retirement income.
State’s Regulatory Oversight Questioned
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes & Energy (EGLE) assumed regulatory responsibility for the Edenville Dam in 2018.
“State agencies took no meaningful action to reduce water levels or strengthen the dam’s structure,” the letter states, adding that regulators “prioritized environmental concerns over public safety by demanding that water levels be raised to protect freshwater mussels, despite knowing this high-hazard dam was unsafe.”
Legal Developments and Settlement Push
On May 12, 2025, the Michigan Court of Claims cleared the way for victims’ claims against the state to proceed. However, residents emphasize they’re seeking a timely settlement rather than prolonged litigation.
“We will continue to litigate our case. We have a trial in January, and we expect to proceed with the trial,” said Sharon Almonrode, one of the lead attorneys on the case with Miller Law Firm.
When contacted about the residents’ letter, the governor’s office redirected inquiries to the Attorney General’s office, offering no direct response to the settlement request.
The victims are calling for the administration to direct the attorney general’s office to negotiate in good faith and reach a fair settlement that addresses their ongoing losses.
“We’re still here and we’re still waiting,” Ball said.
Edenville Dam signed letter by brandon carr on Scribd