Governor Granholm says call by some for National Guard Intervention is not warranted or necessary for this situation.
Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and Mayor Dayne Walling today announced that the city’s request for additional presence of Michigan State Police (MSP) in the city of Flint is being honored and went into effect last night.
The announcement follows a series of conference calls late Wednesday between the governor, the mayor, Michigan State Police Director Col. Eddie Washington, Jr., and Flint Public Safety Director Alvern Lock.
“Public safety is our top priority, and we stand ready to assist our local partners to ensure that citizens are protected and remain safe,” Granholm said today. “For that reason, we are honoring Mayor Walling’s request that additional resources from the Michigan State Police be made available to the residents of Flint.”
“We share the governor’s commitment to public safety, and we are grateful to the Michigan State Police increasing their presence in our city,” Walling said. “These are difficult budget times that have resulted in very difficult decisions, but with the assistance of the Michigan State Police, we can stem the tide of violence in our city.”
Beginning last night, the MSP tripled its uniform presence in the city and will work with the Flint Police Department to ensure that there is a visible law enforcement presence in the city. The Michigan State Police has been actively involved in law enforcement within the city limits, where it has maintained a uniform and investigative presence for the past five years.
There has been no request for assistance from the Michigan National Guard, which the governor confirmed is not warranted or appropriate in this instance.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Buick City Clean-Up Plan Finalized
EPA FINALIZES BUICK CITY CLEAN-UP PLAN
Plan is released 1 day after the Federal Government announces a trust of nearly $1Billion for the clean-up and redevelop of dozens of former General Motors sites across the country
The final U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plan for the clean-up of Buick City comes on the heels of the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers announcement Tuesday of a landmark federal framework to speed the cleanup and redevelopment of shuttered auto facilities resulting from the GM bankruptcy. The federal government is investing nearly $836 Million to put facilities back into productive use, with hopes of creating jobs and economic growth in communities across the country.
EPA Region 5 today announced its final decision on an estimated $5 million to $7 million cleanup plan to address historical contamination on the South end portion of the former General Motors Buick City property in Flint, Mich.
The South end portion of the 452-acre property includes the area south of Leith Street, bounded to the east by Cole Boulevard and the Flint River and to the south by Harriet Street.
Due to General Motors’ bankruptcy, Motors Liquidation Corp. is the successor company and current owner of the site. Buick City’s south end is the first of the former General Motors sites to have a final cleanup plan. The EPA will oversee the cleanup work in consultation with Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
“Finalizing the cleanup plan is a key milestone in the future redevelopment of Buick City,” said Margaret Guerriero, director of EPA Region 5’s Land and Chemicals Division. “Most of the cleanup work will be subsurface or in isolated areas of the site. The cleanup should not impact—or slow down—any plans for a new business that wants to operate on the property.”
Flint Mayor Dayne Walling is excited about the opportunity for redevelopment of this site. “It’s great news for our community that Buick City is the first former General Motors manufacturing site in the country with an approved reclamation plan. A potential investor has already expressed interest in purchasing this location for a future intermodal operation,” said Mayor Walling. “With this plan in place and the federal financial commitment to the clean-up and redevelopment process, it’s akin to having our very own stimulus fund. This is a game changer for Flint. It opens the door for us to create jobs, recycle properties, and become more competitive in this 21st century global economy.”
With the cleanup plan finalized, the next step is for the EPA to receive a detailed project implementation plan from MLC’s contractors. Most work at the site will begin in 2011. Through the fall and winter, area residents may occasionally see sampling teams or other environmental workers at the site.
For more information, including a fact sheet for the plan as it was proposed in February, see www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/wptdiv/sites/buickcity/. An information repository with site documents has been established at the Flint Main Branch Public Library, 1026 E. Kearsley St.
ABOUT BUICK CITY
- Automotive production at the Buick City property began in the 1890s
- The Buick Motor Co. moved to Flint in 1903 and became a division of General Motors when that corporation was formed in 1908
- The facility also produced military equipment during World Wars I and II
- Manufacturing operations at the South end portion of the site ceased in 1999
- More than 15 million Buicks were built at the Buick City complex
- During the 1970’s, General Motors employed nearly 30,000 people at the Buick City - it was the largest UAW local in the U.S.
ABOUT MLC OWNED PROPERTY IN FLINT
- Michigan has over 4000 acres of MLC property
- Flint area has over 850 acres of MLC property, which is more than 20 percent of the
Michigan total
- City of Flint proper has 640 acres of MLC property and 4.7 million sq. ft. of buildings
- City of Flint has the most MLC land of any city in the country
Plan is released 1 day after the Federal Government announces a trust of nearly $1Billion for the clean-up and redevelop of dozens of former General Motors sites across the country
The final U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plan for the clean-up of Buick City comes on the heels of the White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers announcement Tuesday of a landmark federal framework to speed the cleanup and redevelopment of shuttered auto facilities resulting from the GM bankruptcy. The federal government is investing nearly $836 Million to put facilities back into productive use, with hopes of creating jobs and economic growth in communities across the country.
EPA Region 5 today announced its final decision on an estimated $5 million to $7 million cleanup plan to address historical contamination on the South end portion of the former General Motors Buick City property in Flint, Mich.
The South end portion of the 452-acre property includes the area south of Leith Street, bounded to the east by Cole Boulevard and the Flint River and to the south by Harriet Street.
Due to General Motors’ bankruptcy, Motors Liquidation Corp. is the successor company and current owner of the site. Buick City’s south end is the first of the former General Motors sites to have a final cleanup plan. The EPA will oversee the cleanup work in consultation with Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
“Finalizing the cleanup plan is a key milestone in the future redevelopment of Buick City,” said Margaret Guerriero, director of EPA Region 5’s Land and Chemicals Division. “Most of the cleanup work will be subsurface or in isolated areas of the site. The cleanup should not impact—or slow down—any plans for a new business that wants to operate on the property.”
Flint Mayor Dayne Walling is excited about the opportunity for redevelopment of this site. “It’s great news for our community that Buick City is the first former General Motors manufacturing site in the country with an approved reclamation plan. A potential investor has already expressed interest in purchasing this location for a future intermodal operation,” said Mayor Walling. “With this plan in place and the federal financial commitment to the clean-up and redevelopment process, it’s akin to having our very own stimulus fund. This is a game changer for Flint. It opens the door for us to create jobs, recycle properties, and become more competitive in this 21st century global economy.”
With the cleanup plan finalized, the next step is for the EPA to receive a detailed project implementation plan from MLC’s contractors. Most work at the site will begin in 2011. Through the fall and winter, area residents may occasionally see sampling teams or other environmental workers at the site.
For more information, including a fact sheet for the plan as it was proposed in February, see www.epa.gov/reg5rcra/wptdiv/sites/buickcity/. An information repository with site documents has been established at the Flint Main Branch Public Library, 1026 E. Kearsley St.
ABOUT BUICK CITY
- Automotive production at the Buick City property began in the 1890s
- The Buick Motor Co. moved to Flint in 1903 and became a division of General Motors when that corporation was formed in 1908
- The facility also produced military equipment during World Wars I and II
- Manufacturing operations at the South end portion of the site ceased in 1999
- More than 15 million Buicks were built at the Buick City complex
- During the 1970’s, General Motors employed nearly 30,000 people at the Buick City - it was the largest UAW local in the U.S.
ABOUT MLC OWNED PROPERTY IN FLINT
- Michigan has over 4000 acres of MLC property
- Flint area has over 850 acres of MLC property, which is more than 20 percent of the
Michigan total
- City of Flint proper has 640 acres of MLC property and 4.7 million sq. ft. of buildings
- City of Flint has the most MLC land of any city in the country
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Mayor Dayne Walling Will Attend Summit on Auto Impacted Communities
Flint Mayor Dayne Walling will travel to Washington D.C. to attend a summit on auto impacted communities. The Auto Communities and the Next Economy: Partnerships in Innovation summit is being hosted by the White House and Washington based Brookings Institution.
Mayor Walling will be joined at the conference by mayors from across the country whose communities have been negatively impacted by the decline of the automotive industry. The summit will focus on American auto communities and their role in the future.
“This summit provides a unique opportunity for Mayor’s of the country’s hardest hit auto communities to come together and share with the federal government what is needed to help turn our communities around,” said Mayor Walling. “No other community in the country has been impacted the way Flint has from the downturn of the automotive sector. I am looking forward to an engaging and productive discussion around the revitalization of American auto communities.”
The summit will be held in Washington D.C. May 17 – 18, 2010.
About Brookings Institute
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Whose mission is to conduct high-quality, independent research and, based on that research, provide innovative, practical recommendations that advance three broad goals:
Strengthen American democracy;
Foster the economic and social welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans and
Secure a more open, safe, prosperous and cooperative international system.
Mayor Walling will be joined at the conference by mayors from across the country whose communities have been negatively impacted by the decline of the automotive industry. The summit will focus on American auto communities and their role in the future.
“This summit provides a unique opportunity for Mayor’s of the country’s hardest hit auto communities to come together and share with the federal government what is needed to help turn our communities around,” said Mayor Walling. “No other community in the country has been impacted the way Flint has from the downturn of the automotive sector. I am looking forward to an engaging and productive discussion around the revitalization of American auto communities.”
The summit will be held in Washington D.C. May 17 – 18, 2010.
About Brookings Institute
The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit public policy organization based in Washington, DC. Whose mission is to conduct high-quality, independent research and, based on that research, provide innovative, practical recommendations that advance three broad goals:
Strengthen American democracy;
Foster the economic and social welfare, security and opportunity of all Americans and
Secure a more open, safe, prosperous and cooperative international system.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Mayor Walling Talks Trash Collection, Compost, and the Return of Firefighers During Weekly Message
Please click here to view the Mayor's weekly video message for May 10, 2010.
City Of Flint Brings Back 34 Laid Off Firefighters
This addition brings the total number of firefighters in the department to 100
The City of Flint has re-hired 34 previously laid off firefighters. The layoffs date back to 2007 including 21 firefighters who were laid off as of March 24, 2010. The city plans to hire 5 additional firefighters by July 1, 2010, bringing the total number of
re-hires and new hires to 39.
The city of Flint received a $6.7M Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from FEMA, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, to bring the fire department staffing levels to 105. The grant which covers salaries and benefits for 39 firefighters is effective from May 10, 2010 through May 10, 2012.
Flint Mayor Dayne Walling applauds the efforts of FEMA for funding 100% of the city’s grant request. “This is great news for the community. We asked for funding for 39 firefighters and we received it,” said Mayor Walling. “Just recently the city was forced to layoff nearly 2 dozen firefighters. This grant not only restores those 21 laid off firefighters but it also adds more than a dozen more firefighters to the ranks making this the largest fire department this community has had in several years.”
The increase in staffing in the Flint fire department has made it possible for the city to re-open two previously closed fire stations. Fire Station #8 on Atherton Road and Fire Station #3 on Martin Luther King Avenue are open and serving the community as of May 10, 2010.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)