Royal Oak City Hall Forced To Close Over Burst Water Pipe

ROYAL OAK (WWJ) - The Royal Oak City Hall is closed until further notice due to a burst water pipe in the building.

Officials discovered the burst pipe Wednesday morning on the first floor of City Hall.

City Manager Don Johnson said it happened at about midnight Tuesday.

Wednesday morning, crews were at work vacuuming up the water and using dozens of large industrial fans to dry up the mess.

"As far as we can tell it doesn't look like any records are damaged," Johnson told WWJ's Laura Bonnell. "There is water in some rooms where stuff is stored, but it's not that deep; you know, most things (are) up on shelves or in cabinets."

"The first floor got it the worst. I think there was maybe an inch of water covering the floors here, in the hallways," he said. "But down in the storage areas the floors are just wet. There's probably no more than a quarter-inch."

Johnson expects the cleanup will cost the city a couple thousand dollars.

Because the boiler shut down and the building is currently without heat or running water, it will be closed to the public while necessary repairs take place.

City officials say they will keep residents informed as this situation changes, but the building is expected to reopen on Thursday.

For more information, residents can contact Judy Davids, Community Engagement Specialist, at 248-763-3036.