Local political leaders all agree the ultimate responsibility rests with Governor Snyder when it comes to dealing with the Flint Water Crisis.
The "Big 4," made up of Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and the three county executives took part in annual panel discussion at the Detroit Economic Club luncheon. The crisis is Flint and the state of Detroit Public Schools dominated the conversation.
"The issue we're seeing in Flint is a concern for all us," said Mark Hackel, Macomb county executive.
Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson told Action News that the governor has to step up and assume responsibility for what he called, "a fiasco."
But Patterson did caution against a quick rush to judgment.
"I think we have to wait to judge the size of this crisis until testing is complete," Patterson said. "They're just starting now to testing the water, testing the residents."
Initial testing has detected higher lead levels than allowed in children in Flint, the result of the switch from service by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to water from the Flint River in an attempt to save money. The swtich was made with a state-appointed emergency manager running the city.
"As the chief executive officer the buck stops with you but my concern is the people who have ingested the lead, to what level, what are the long term effects," said Warren Evans, Wayne County executive.
Patterson, the lone republican on the stage at Cobo Center, said he expects Governor Snyder to apologize again during Tuesday night's State of the State address in Lansing. Patterson called what's happened in Flint, "a fiasco."
"I had an organization in place. It broke down," Patterson said when asked for his suggestion on what Snyder should say during his speech. "I think the public will understand that," Patterson said. "He can't duck it because it happened on his watch."
Snyder has made several trips to Flint since declaring a state of emergency in the city but Hackel declared it's not enough.
"You need to be there, in the epicenter of that problem and make that your mobile command post, if you will," Hackel said. "Live the nightmare."
Duggan headed to Lansing following the event at Cobo. He had plans to meet with state legislators to fight for bills that would help school children in Detroit.
"We need a system of education in Detroit that accounts for all of the schools and sets a standard for all of them and causes all of them to succeed," Duggan said.
