Dearborn Hts. Mayor: Flooding Not The Fault Of City
DEARBORN HEIGHTS (WWJ) - Who is to blame for the flooding?
The mayor of Dearborn Heights says after hearing residents of his city on WWJ, he wanted to set the record straight.
Mayor Dan Paletko says water from the entire region is ending up in Dearborn Heights -- and he sued the county over it. The solution won't come cheap -- $165 million needs to be spent to fix the problem.
"Everyone has got to contribute because this water that's in Dearborn Heights didn't all come from Dearborn Heights -- it's flowing in from surrounding communities. But we are a low point in the Ecorse Creek system and the Rouge system and we end of being a depository -- a retention basin if you will," Paletko said.
The mayor said a study found the flooding fix in the Ecorse Creek area would carry a steep price tag.
"And it's about 165 million dollar price tag -- and that's what people are choking about -- but Dearborn Heights is the biggest beneficiary of it - but we also happened to be ... we end up serving like a bath tub for all the surrounding areas - it's both in the north end and the south end and it's just not fair to our residents," Palentko said.
Mayor Paletko adds he wants the problem fixed because he's had flooding in his home.
The Mayor says he will meet with the flooded out residents to explain the solution to the problem.
