Dear Editor,

(Comments regarding the October 26 Clarkston City Council meeting)
The release of the 18 withheld documents confirm that 13 documents were the underlying reason the muffler shop at 148 N. Main never became a drive-thru coffee shop.
They also reveal that City officials have not been committed to the principle of Transparency. Five current City officials were City officials in 2015 when the documents were withheld from the Bisio FOIA request. 
Thirteen documents involved the proposed Hold Harmless Agreement which was intended to protect the City, the developer and Hubbell, Roth and Clark, the City’s engineering consultant, from environmental damage to Upper Mill Pond, Lower Mill Pond and Parke Lake which flow to the Clinton River.
The proposed storm water drainage solution could “push the plume” (the underground gasoline plume) at 148 N. Main. 
The coffee shop project proposal was withdrawn when the City insisted on buy-off from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality based on the storm water drainage solution being proposed. 
A Clarkston News article of April 23, 2015 noted “Ryan has recommended the city enter a hold harmless agreement, created to minimizing liabilities over a risky action, like disturbing the plume causing it to spread further into groundwater or the Mill Pond or Parke Lake. Local residents familiar with storm water and pollution issues over 10 years ago were concerned over the hold harmless clause. In 2003, after the Michigan Department of Transportation opposed connecting Robertson Court to a Main Street Storm water system, the city sought costs for water and sewer work. Bids ranged from $2.9 million to over $4 million and releasing pollution was a major concern.” 
The gasoline plume at 148 N. Main is noted today by the four in-ground “Excavation Restricted Area MDOT #63071-51847-18” markers installed on N. Main in May 2018.
The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality official most familiar with the situation, Ms. Terry Golla, indicated no excavation greater than six inches was permitted. MDEQ is now EGLE, Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lake, and Energy. 
Jerome Meyer, president of Innovative Environmental Solutions, Inc. presented information to City Council on Sept. 24, 2018 showing that the plume was no longer moving south or west based on sampling wells at 117 N. Main and 122 N. Main. The map presented showed presence at 148 N. Main. 
The relevance today is that chronic storm water drainage issues continue to damage the road surface on Clarkston Road approaching N. Main, adjacent to 148 N. Main.
The City Manager has confirmed that Clarkston Road is “on the list” of repairs by the Road Commission of Oakland County for 2021 and that utilities would need to be moved prior to road repairs.  
I have heard no discussion of “brownfield remediation” to remove the plume.
It is unclear whether the RCOC repair involves resolving storm water drainage which could “push the plume” and risk environmental damage.
Ironically, some of the City officials from 2015 (and current) live on Lower Mill Pond and Parke Lake.
 
Sincerely,
Chet Pardee
Clarkston