HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Highland Park Mayor Glenda McDonald declared a state of emergency to address a $24 million unpaid water bill owed to the Great Lakes Water authority (GLWA). The announcement came after the city council voted not to hire bankruptcy lawyers to represent the city during the upcoming mediation on May 8.

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“Just want to make sure I have it clear. [The] city of Highland Park is going into bankruptcy discussions and members of the council have voted not to retain an attorney to represent us in these proceedings,” said City Council President Jamal K. Thomas.

Some council members objected to the lawyers’ presentation of what would happen during the legal process. Councilman Kursheed Ash-Shafii admitted that the city will need legal representation but said, “I cannot stomach the fear tactics … I don’t like being lied to, and I don’t like being swindled.”

City Administrator Cathy Square called the situation “serious business” and said Highland Park residents should be worried that the city’s water supply will be cut off.

“And of course, we had to get lawyers from all over the place because nobody would take this case,” she said. “It’s cost us a million dollars a year to fight this, to keep it off the taxes.”

Mayor McDonald left the meeting before elaborating on what a state of emergency would entail, but Square said it likely would not go beyond retaining the bankruptcy lawyers. It would also free up a still unspecified amount of financial resources from the state.

“And in a state of emergency, we will move forward with what we have to do to make sure that our water levy is not put on your taxes,” said McDonald, “and if … the court doesn’t go our way, [we will make sure] that you will not be paying.”