First Meeting For New Detroit Water Board

DETROIT (WWJ) - The room was packed, Wednesday, as the new Detroit Water Board of Commissioners met for the first time.

The court-ordered seven-member board consists of five new faces, including attorney Jim Fausone who represents the interests of Wayne and Oakland counties.

"It was a good first meeting," Fausone told reporters.

"Obviously, there's a whole lot of information that new board members have to absorb. But everybody's committed to do it," he said.

 Board president Mary Blackman agreed that they have a tough job ahead.

"Number one priority is that we get into compliance and stay in compliance. That's the number one priority, and (for) everything that affects that to be in place," Blackman said.

A U.S. District Judge took over the pollution law suit case against the Department in December and has asked the department to be in compliance with its pollution rules by this summer.

The City of Detroit still has the advantage of having four representatives, with major expenditures and rate increases needing five votes for approval. There are 4.3 million water customers in Metro Detroit.