An effort to roll back Flint’s recent spike in water and sewer rates has failed.
On Friday, a Genesee County Circuit Court judge dismissed a lawsuit against the city of Flint.
Flint's city council president sued, after the mayor, then later the state appointed emergency manger, increased city water and sewer rates. The increases effectively doubled the rate for city water customers
City leaders claim the rate increase was needed to pay for rising water system expenses.
But the lawsuit accuses city officials of using some of the money to pay for other city needs.
The judge dismissed the lawsuit finding that city officials followed state law when they imposed the rate hikes.
The attorney who filed the suit says he plans to appeal.
Meanwhile, a groundbreaking is scheduled next Friday for a new pipeline that will carry water from Lake Huron to Flint and other parts of Genesee County. Flint's outgoing emergency manager signed the city up for the pipeline project. The hope is the new pipeline will provide water at a lower price than what the city of Flint is being charged by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department.
