Deal Made Over Macomb County Sinkhole Funding

The Snyder Administration has found $3 million that will be re-purposed to fix the sinkhole.

Michigan State Capitol building on a sunny day

Jake Neher/WDET

Macomb County will get money to work on a giant sinkhole.

A deadlock in the Legislature was holding up the money, and it also delayed getting $100 million for Flint in the same budget bill.

The House and the Senate could not agree on whether the money for Macomb should be a grant or a loan. Then, Gov. Rick Snyder’s administration found $3 million in a fund for fixing roads that will be re-purposed to fix the sinkhole.

“It’s not necessarily where we expected it,” said state Rep. Jeff Yaroch (R-Richmond). “But, it seems reasonable. This fund was set up for issues such as this.”

Snyder declared a state of emergency in Fraser in January. The sinkhole was caused by a sewer line collapse, and forced two dozen families from their home on Christmas Eve. 

The Legislature does not need to vote before the money is given to Macomb. 

Authors

  • Rick Pluta
    Rick Pluta has been covering Michigan’s Capitol, government, and politics since 1987.
  • Cheyna has interned with Michigan Radio and freelanced for WKAR public radio in Lansing. She's also done some online freelancing and worked on documentary films.