Overview:
- Inkster residents are receiving water bills that in some cases were double their usual amounts following a March 2025 meter replacement program.
- Metro Food Rescue is launching mini fresh food pantries inside affordable housing complexes for older adults.
- GFL Environmental seeks to expand the Arbor Hills landfill in Salem Township to a 90-acre parcel north of Six Mile Road, reviving a proposal withdrawn by previous owner Republic Services in 2016.
🚰 City pauses late fees as Inkster water bills soar following meter replacement Inkster residents are receiving water bills that in some cases were double their usual amounts following a March 2025 meter replacement program. The city blamed billing errors from data migration, pausing late fees through December 2025. One resident received a $930 bill for two months. Mayor Byron Nolen says new meters accurately measure usage, causing “sticker shock” after old meters underestimated consumption. Inkster’s combined water-sewer rate is $25.77 per 100 cubic feet. Lead has been detected in the drinking water of some older homes with lead lines. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press
⚖️ Flint water crisis trial against EPA set to begin after decadelong wait A bellwether bench trial against the EPA begins Jan. 26 in Ann Arbor, over a decade after Flint’s water crisis emerged. Three children allege the EPA failed to follow directives, allowing continued use of contaminated Flint River water. Former Gov. Rick Snyder is listed as a potential witness. The EPA maintains the city and state caused the crisis. Judge Judith E. Levy will decide damages without a jury under the Federal Tort Claims Act. The outcome could influence other pending water crisis claims. 📌 Source: MLive
🍅 Metro Detroit nonprofit launches in-building pantries to serve older adults without transportation Metro Food Rescue is launching mini fresh food pantries inside affordable housing complexes for older adults, beginning at Detroit’s 62-unit Gratiot Woods Co-op apartments. The initiative addresses transportation and time barriers that prevent older residents from accessing traditional food pantries. Weekly restocked fridges will offer fruits, vegetables, bread, and essentials. Over 1.5 million Michiganders face hunger while food comprises 19% of Michigan landfill waste, according to the organization’s founder Chad Techner. 📌 Source: Axios
🗑️ Arbor Hills landfill seeks expansion despite history of violations, local opposition GFL Environmental seeks to expand the Arbor Hills landfill in Salem Township to a 90-acre parcel north of Six Mile Road, reviving a proposal withdrawn by previous owner Republic Services in 2016. Local residents are organizing opposition through The Conservancy Initiative. The landfill has a history of odor violations and PFAS contamination. Approval for the expansion requires inclusion in Washtenaw County’s materials management plan prior to the state permitting process. 📌 Source: Detroit Free Press
🌉 Line 5 legal battle continues as Michigan appeals ruling favoring pipeline operator Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is appealing a federal court decision favoring Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline through the Straits of Mackinac. Judge Robert Jonker ruled federal pipeline safety laws supersede Michigan’s concerns. Whitmer tried revoking the 1953 operating agreement in 2020, citing safety risks and a 2018 anchor strike. The U.S. Supreme Court scheduled arguments on whether a separate state case belongs in state or federal court. Meanwhile, Michigan is considering Enbridge’s application to build a protective tunnel under the straits. 📌 Source: Michigan Public
🌊 Edenville dam trial: Did Michigan ignore warning signs before 2020 flooding? Midland-area residents began a multiday trial against the state of Michigan over the 2020 Edenville Dam failure that flooded downstream homes and drained Wixom Lake. Plaintiffs argue the state knew of spillway problems yet approved raising water levels two weeks before the May 19, 2020 disaster. State attorneys counter they inherited regulatory authority from the federal government in 2018 and were researching solutions when flooding occurred. The dam’s embankment failure is attributed to static liquefaction. A federal judge previously ruled that owner Boyce Hydro is liable for $120 million for damages. The company filed for bankruptcy. 📌 Source: The Detroit News