November 28, 2017
By Ron Fonger
Flint - The city's former utilities administrator (click here) has struck a plea deal with prosecutors, becoming the third of 15 Flint water crisis defendants to agree to cooperate in other pending cases, including those against officials inside Gov. Rick Snyder's cabinet.
Daugherty Johnson, Flint's former utilities administrator, pleaded no contest Tuesday, Nov. 28, to a misdemeanor public records charge rather than facing two felony charges -- false pretenses and conspiracy to commit false pretenses.
Johnson pleaded no contest to failing to furnish water documents to a Genesee County Health Department employee investigating a possible connection between Flint water and Legionnaires' disease outbreaks.
He is scheduled to return to court in May for sentencing, facing up to one year of imprisonment or a fine of not more than $1,000....
Friday, December 01, 2017
There is some movement in the Water Crisis investigation.
December 1, 2017
By Bob Johnson
Flint -- The professor (click here) leading the investigation into a deadly Legionnaires' outbreak in Flint returned to the witness stand as the preliminary hearing continued for Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon.
Shawn McElmurry, a Wayne State University associate professor of civil and environmental engineering who led Legionnaires' disease research in Flint, resumed his testimony Friday, Dec. 1, after last testifying on Nov. 17.
Defense Attorney Britt Cobb, who represents Lyon, spent her portion of questioning asking McElmurry about emails he sent to his staff expressing frustration about a project with Lyon's department....
The objections are to build a case for an appeal.
...Chamberlain spent a majority of his time battling with Special Prosecutor Todd Flood over the line of questions he directed toward McElmurry.
Flood would often stand to object throughout.
"It's difficult to respond to these speaking objections without a speaking response," Chamberlain said at one point.
At least a dozen people in Genesee County died from Legionella during the outbreaks, public health officials have said.
Judge David J. Goggins will decide if probable cause exists to bind Lyons over to Genesee County Circuit Court on manslaughter and misconduct charges.
The case is scheduled to resume Dec. 13.
Why is there an international engineering firm doing this work?
December 1, 2017
By Oona Goodin-Smith
Flint - An international engineering (click here) firm will oversee Flint's massive lead pipe replacement efforts in the new year.
To the tune of a $5 million contract with the city, Los Angeles-based AECOM will supervise the Flint Action and Sustainability Team (FAST) Start program, which was previously managed by General Michael McDaniel and members of the Michigan National Guard.
Flint City Council unanimously approved the 13-month contract for $5,054,671 - set to begin Friday, Dec. 1 - earlier this week....
It is a matter of principle. There should be Michigan owned and operated engineering firm carrying out this project. If there isn't one available to do such a project, what does that say about the colleges in Michigan?
The problem is this. These multinational firms of any vernacular simply drown out any attempt by local domestic companies. The bidding process puts emphasis on "cheap" instead of aligning the bids up domestically. Domestic companies can't compete.
As a fully integrated firm, (click here) we connect knowledge and experience across our global network of experts to help clients solve their most complex challenges. From high-performance buildings and infrastructure, to resilient communities and environments, to stable and secure nations, our work is transformative, differentiated and vital. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM had revenue of approximately $18.2 billion during fiscal year 2017. See how we deliver what others can only imagine at aecom.com and @AECOM.
This is going to sound funny, but, there is a company that is a Michigan company, named Elmers. I don't know if Elmer was the first contractor to take on the difficult municipal work, but, "Elmers" has grown into a very large company and does a lot of municipal work. They would have been perfect to carry out the work in Flint.
By Bob Johnson
Flint -- The professor (click here) leading the investigation into a deadly Legionnaires' outbreak in Flint returned to the witness stand as the preliminary hearing continued for Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon.
Shawn McElmurry, a Wayne State University associate professor of civil and environmental engineering who led Legionnaires' disease research in Flint, resumed his testimony Friday, Dec. 1, after last testifying on Nov. 17.
Defense Attorney Britt Cobb, who represents Lyon, spent her portion of questioning asking McElmurry about emails he sent to his staff expressing frustration about a project with Lyon's department....
The objections are to build a case for an appeal.
...Chamberlain spent a majority of his time battling with Special Prosecutor Todd Flood over the line of questions he directed toward McElmurry.
Flood would often stand to object throughout.
"It's difficult to respond to these speaking objections without a speaking response," Chamberlain said at one point.
At least a dozen people in Genesee County died from Legionella during the outbreaks, public health officials have said.
Judge David J. Goggins will decide if probable cause exists to bind Lyons over to Genesee County Circuit Court on manslaughter and misconduct charges.
The case is scheduled to resume Dec. 13.
Why is there an international engineering firm doing this work?
December 1, 2017
By Oona Goodin-Smith
Flint - An international engineering (click here) firm will oversee Flint's massive lead pipe replacement efforts in the new year.
To the tune of a $5 million contract with the city, Los Angeles-based AECOM will supervise the Flint Action and Sustainability Team (FAST) Start program, which was previously managed by General Michael McDaniel and members of the Michigan National Guard.
Flint City Council unanimously approved the 13-month contract for $5,054,671 - set to begin Friday, Dec. 1 - earlier this week....
It is a matter of principle. There should be Michigan owned and operated engineering firm carrying out this project. If there isn't one available to do such a project, what does that say about the colleges in Michigan?
The problem is this. These multinational firms of any vernacular simply drown out any attempt by local domestic companies. The bidding process puts emphasis on "cheap" instead of aligning the bids up domestically. Domestic companies can't compete.
As a fully integrated firm, (click here) we connect knowledge and experience across our global network of experts to help clients solve their most complex challenges. From high-performance buildings and infrastructure, to resilient communities and environments, to stable and secure nations, our work is transformative, differentiated and vital. A Fortune 500 firm, AECOM had revenue of approximately $18.2 billion during fiscal year 2017. See how we deliver what others can only imagine at aecom.com and @AECOM.
This is going to sound funny, but, there is a company that is a Michigan company, named Elmers. I don't know if Elmer was the first contractor to take on the difficult municipal work, but, "Elmers" has grown into a very large company and does a lot of municipal work. They would have been perfect to carry out the work in Flint.
Team Elmer’s, (click here) a family owned company since 1956, is comprised of four divisions – asphalt, excavation, concrete and crane and rigging. Our Traverse City, Michigan-based company proudly employs more than 400 skilled professionals, and operates out of 14 Michigan locations.
Launched in 1956 by Elmer Schaub, the seven-employee company was bought in 1977 by Butch Broad, an energetic entrepreneur who steadily expanded Elmer’s for decades. Today, our company is led by Broad’s three children and an experienced management team.
Our professionals have led and supported many of the largest and most complex projects in the region over the past decades, including the construction of some of the most prominent public and private schools, churches, state and federal roads and bridges, shopping centers, medical centers, hotels, and public institutions throughout the state. Satisfied clients include the U.S. government, the State of Michigan, virtually every county road commission in the areas Team Elmer’s serves, Michigan’s top construction companies, and tens of thousands of private companies and individuals.
If the Flint City Council made a stipulation there would have to be some employees from Flint to work on this project, I betcha "Elmers" would have taken on a few people to teach them a trade.
I am disappointed. Very.
If the Flint City Council made a stipulation there would have to be some employees from Flint to work on this project, I betcha "Elmers" would have taken on a few people to teach them a trade.
I am disappointed. Very.
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