Benton Harbor City Commissioners have voted to continue the city’s longstanding wastewater partnership with the city of St. Joseph.
At Monday’s regular meeting, commissioners were told it’s time to renew the city’s shared commitment with the wastewater treatment plant, which is jointly owned by Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. The agreement over use and management of the plant goes back to 1959 and has been renewed multiple times.
City attorney Sara Senica told commissioners a new ordinance must be passed to confirm the contract for another 50 years. Previous renewals have come in the form of resolutions, but she said state law actually requires an ordinance. But this just continues the current arrangement.
“I can’t emphasize enough how integral this plant is to the wastewater treatment for multiple local communities,” Senica said. “We have agreements with multiple other communities to treat their wastewater.”
Commissioner Emma Kinnard wanted more information.
“We should be wise in getting a clear understanding,” Kinnard said. “And I haven’t had anything to give me any kind of information clear about the items that we are voting down, some of us are voting down.”
Commissioner Juanita Henry also wanted additional details, while Commissioner Ethel Clark Griffin wasn’t comfortable with the length of the agreement.
In the end, commissioners voted to approve the contract with Kinnard and Griffin voting no. St. Joseph City Commissioners last week approved their first reading of the same agreement.
