Tri-City Sun

Rep. Annette Glenn (R-Midland) is calling on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to order an independent investigation into the recent failure of the Edenville and Sanford dams, which caused flooding and damage in Midland and surrounding counties, devastating thousands of families.

Last month in Sanford, the governor announced her instruction to the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy to conduct an investigation. But it was the DELGE that approved the dams' continued operation last year, with Attorney General Dana Nessel suing the dam owner when he wanted to reduce water levels to repair and lower pressure on the dams.

Glenn has gained support from colleagues Sen. Jim Stamas (R-Midland) and Rep. Roger Hauck (R-Union Township). She also has the bipartisan support of three Bay County commissioners.

“The commonsense call for an independent investigator is bipartisan, and it’s growing,” Glenn said to Michigan House Republicans. “I’m hopeful the governor will quickly reverse course and act to ensure an independent investigation that flood victims and taxpayers can find credible.” 

In reference to Nessel's lawsuit, which was primarily concerned with marine life, Glenn asked if mollusks and snails were more important than the people of Midland and Sanford.

When asked why she hadn't appointed an independent investigator, Whitmer told a reporter that the investigation has to be done by someone with technical expertise and that expertise is few and far between, according to Michigan House Republicans.

Glenn serves as vice chair of the House appropriations subcommittee, which sets the Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy budget. She hopes the governor will see that flood victims deserve an objective evaluation of what happened and a fair conclusion.

“We didn’t trust the state Department of Environmental Quality to investigate its own mishandling of the Flint water crisis,” Glenn told Michigan House Republicans, “and after being in a lot of wet, mud-filled basements this week, I know it doesn’t feel right to ask one of our own executive branch agencies to investigate whether the state shares any culpability for these devastating failures. This situation clearly warrants an independent investigation.”

Glenn said there are several agencies with the expertise required to adequately conduct an investigation. The Army Corps of Engineers, energy regulatory agencies from other states or a panel of former energy and infrastructure regulators are just a few agencies that could be considered. Glenn feels it is not in the best interest of the victims for the owner of the failed dam to conduct its own investigation.

“Words cannot fully describe how horrendous this has been for families in our community,” Glenn said to Michigan House Republicans. “Thousands of our neighbors and friends who had to evacuate their homes and small businesses returned only to find unbelievable devastation. I’m confident we’ll get through these trying times and be stronger for what we have rebuilt together. But we  must make sure those responsible are held accountable.”