There is never a dull moment in Grand Haven. Currently, there are a slew of happenings involving the Grand Haven Board of Light & Power (BLP). The municipal utility is caught up in controversies as a charter amendment is on the ballot Tuesday that would change the structure of the board, bringing it under city control.
The BLP General Manager has submitted his resignation, effective in January, following complaints by a whistleblower. The Grand Haven City Council has hired an independent reviewer to conduct an investigation as a result. Among the concerns raised are allegations that the BLP violated Michigan campaign finance laws. Among the concerns raised by the whistleblower were allegations of a coordinated effort to destroy documents to evade the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and avoid compliance with the Open Meetings Act. Additional allegations include claims BLP employees were pressured to take actions to oppose the charter amendment, in violation of state law.
In April the grassroots Board of Light and Power Charter Change Coalition (BLPCCC) announced they were pursuing a charter amendment that would restructure the BLP. Leaders of the BLPCCC came out of the Grand Haven Energy Organization which played a role in stopping the BLP from constructing a fossil gas power plant on Harbor Island. The BLPCCC quickly and easily collected the required number of signatures to place the amendment on the November ballot.
Much of the original BLP charter created in 1959 needs upgrading. At that time the BLP had a diesel power plant on Harbor Island and were building the J.B. Sims coal plant on the island as well. With the retirement of the Sims plant, BLP is no longer producing energy.
There has been significant disagreement between the city council and the BLP regarding the cleanup of Harbor Island and numerous other issues. In addition, BLP ratepayers outside of the Grand Haven city limits are not represented on the BLP board even though they are now a larger group than the ratepayers within the City.
The Sierra Club Michigan Chapter is in support of a YES vote on this charter amendment in the November 7 election. For more information on this amendment change click www.blpccc.org or contact Field Reichardt at jreichardt@gmail.com or call Jan O’Connell at 616-560-0017
Two open seats for the BLP Board of Directors are also on the ballot on Tuesday.