Michigan is willing to take over property repairs at 900 homes in Flint where water pipes have been inspected or replaced, but the surrounding grounds remain in disarray.Â
The city was found in contempt by a judge in March for failing to meet deadlines, years after a water switch in Flint in 2014 led to lead contamination in the drinking water system.
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, between 10,000 and 11,000 lead or galvanized steel pipes have been replaced out of 30,000 water lines that were excavated and checked.Â
However, there are still 1,900 homes where the city has not completed the necessary repairs, including broken driveways and sidewalks, and ripped-up lawns.
The state has requested permission from U.S. District Judge David Lawson to step in and oversee the work.
The attorney general’s office stated that the state has agreed to assume responsibility for managing the work conducted by the city’s contractors, including payment of additional funds required to complete the work.
Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley expressed gratitude for the state’s assistance, acknowledging that the balance of the work will likely cost more than $4.75 million. NRDC attorney Sarah Tallman emphasized that the goal is to finish the job, which is already years overdue and has not been met by the city’s commitments.
The pipe replacement project received nearly $100 million in funding from state and federal governments. Flint returned to a Detroit-area water supplier in fall 2015.
