Dear Editor,

(Regarding Nov. 9 Clarkston City Council meeting.)
I would like to apologize to Clarkston City Manager Jonathan Smith for my email which should have been critical of Independence Television for the delay in the recording of the October 26 council meeting not being available to the public until 10 days after the council meeting.
I would like to correct my public comments of October 26 based on attorney Neil Wallace’s follow-up comments. I was wrong to suggest that the proposed Hold Harmless Agreement would benefit the developer, when it was proposed by the developer, Clarkston Corners, LLC, per the now-released documents, to protect the city and HRC.
I accept that the plume contents at 148 N. Main are remnants of gasoline from the tanks removed in 1991.
The map provided to council on Sept. 24, 2018 by Innovative Environmental Solutions showed that the plume was no longer moving south and west per the sample wells at 117 N. Main and 122 N. Main and showed presence at 148 N. Main.
I applaud the willingness of Curt Catallo and Neil Wallace to participate in the public comments portion of the Oct. 26 council meeting.  It is unfortunate that the majority of the now-released documents involved the 148 N. Main development and potential environmental risks caused by storm water management proposals.
City officials have not publicly acknowledged the costs to manage storm water to prevent Clarkston Road deterioration as it approaches N. Main Street.  These costs should be included in the Capital Improvement Plan prioritization process and funding sources determined.
The public deserves to understand whether the issues that stopped the development in 2015 will have any environmental impact when Clarkston Road is repaired at N. Main. The city manager has confirmed that the Road Commission of Oakland County plans to repair Clarkston Road in 2021 adjacent to 148 N. Main. Jonathan has previously said that utilities will be moved before roadwork is undertaken.
The EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment Great Lakes and Energy) official responsible for COVOC environmental concerns (Ms. Terry Golla) confirmed that MDOT’s “Restricted Excavation” markers should be interpreted as no excavation greater than six inches below the surface. I am asking that city officials clarify with RCOC whether storm water changes will be made to extend the life of Clarkston Road approaching N. Main. The city’s engineers, Hubbell, Roth, and Clark, developed the storm water management proposals in 2015.
The city insisted that the developer obtain approval from Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, now EGLE, before the development would be permitted to proceed.
City officials have an obligation to reassure Clarkston citizens that no increased environmental risk comes with the planned Clarkston Road repair when the area is excavated for utility relocation and road repair.

Sincerely,
Chet Pardee
Clarkston