Woods Asks Detroit Water Dept. to Explain Rate Hike

The Grosse Pointe Woods Mayor and City Council have asked the Detroit Water Department for more information about the anticipated 18.2 percent rate increase. 

A letter drafted and signed by Mayor Robert Novitke and each of the council members expresses concern about the increase determined by the Detroit Water Department for Woods residents. 

Novitke expressed concern about how the rate increase was determined during a council meeting earlier this month and requested the city's main contact at the Detroit Water Department appear before council to answer questions. 

The Woods has decreased its water usage after being requested to do so, but still faces a rate increase. Novitke told council that although the percentage of increase is the highest of the three Pointes using the Detroit water system, the actual dollar rate is still less than the others. 

The city's water usage was reduced by about 20,000 units last year, Novitke said. The Woods is not the only community for which water rates are increasing, but it has the highest rate of increase within the Pointes. Rates are expected to go from $10.21 to $12.07 per 1000 cubic feet of water used. 

The rates in the Shores are expected to increase by about 9 percent and in the Park by about 10 percent. The City and the Farms are not on the Detroit water system. 

The mayor and council are hoping to get more information for residents before holding a public hearing about the issue, according to the letter. They've also requested some basic information about the costs involved to run the system and employee pay.