Highland Park residents protest 'unfair sewer rates'

Let's go to Highland Park now. Residents there frustrated with the Great Lakes Water Authority after they say that they've been overcharged for sewer rates. Fox 2's Jamie Sherrod now live downtown with more. Jamie. Yeah, Charlie. Residents protesting right outside of GLWA's administrative building before heading inside to make their voices heard again. Here's a look at some of the signs they were holding, including lower rates for HP and GLWA owes Highland Park $1.5 million. Now, they passionately echoed those messages inside during today's meeting, explaining why they believe all of this is unfair. We looked at the rates that other cities our size are receiving, and they're charging us three to four times more, which we don't understand why this is happening. Especially for a city that has revenue challenges like Highland Park, population growth problems. When you're saying that this sum is owed, I think it is for the mayor to ask for like, hey, we may owe it, we may not owe it. Can I get a breakdown? May we have a breakdown so I can let the citizens know, hey, this is why we're being charged. What we're asking for is fairness. We're asking for transparency and accountability. If you get that breakdown and it turns out you do owe that $1.5 million, then what? As a state senator, I don't believe that. And that is not something that I can make a decision on. But I think I would happily be behind the mayor and support the mayor in whatever way she chooses to resolve that particular issue. But I feel confidently that the $1.5 million is not something that the city of Highland Park owes. The Great Lakes Water Authority ultimately saying that an adjustment to those charges for Highland Park is not appropriate. They will be solving this now through arbitration. Reporting live in downtown Detroit, Jamie Sherrod, Fox 2 News. This is the second go-around for Highland Park and GLWA. Didn't they sue each other not too long ago over other water issues? Yeah, Charlie, and this particular issue regarding the sewer charges, it's been going on for more than a few years now. That money stacking up, they've been making those payments. Those payments have been made. Now they're saying that money is owed because they believe they were overcharged here. All right. We'll follow this one. Another lawsuit involving Highland Park and Water. Thank you, Jamie.