FLINT, MI - A notice warning roughly 8,000 Flint residents of losing their homes if they do not make good on their water bills has sparked anger among residents and politicians alike.
They say they are being threatened to pay bills for water they cannot drink.
"I'm really flabbergasted," said Flint resident Timothy Abdul-Matin, who received the notice from the city's treasury department on Wednesday, May 3. "We have people who have made a conscious decision to switch over to this water source without proper treatment, and now they're threatening to kick us to the streets if we don't pay for it."
According to the letter Abdul-Matin received, the father and husband has until May 9 to pay nearly $200 in order to avoid a water shutoff and a tax lien placed on his home. He said he stopped paying his water bill in February.
"Of course I'm going to pay it, man, I've got a wife and kids," said Abdul-Matin. "But it really infuriated me. The mental agony that my kids have to go through, my kids knowing they have to drink bottled water, and now this. How could you threaten to make me pay for the water that's not consumable?"
In a statement, Flint Mayor Karen Weaver said she agreed with those "who have spoken out against this process."
"I have met with our interim city attorney and finance director and they say the city is obligated by local ordinance to follow this procedure, and we must follow the law," Weaver's statement said. "As the mayor of Flint and as a Flint resident, I understand the concerns that have been raised and I am working to see if any changes or something can be done to help those affected by this, especially given the extraordinary circumstances we have endured due to the water crisis."
Congressman Dan Kildee, D-Flint, also issued a statement protesting the liens.
"Flint families should not have to pay for water that they still cannot drink, and they certainly should not lose their homes over this ongoing water crisis that was caused by the callous decisions of state government," Kildee said. "It is unfortunate that Gov. Snyder ended water credits for Flint families. I opposed this decision because Flint families deserve support from the state until there is confidence in the water system again."
Water shutoff warnings have flooded Flint residents' mailboxes for months. In March, the city warned 31 residents - as well as two apartment complexes - that the water would be shut off if outstanding bills were not paid immediately.
City spokesperson Kristin Moore was not immediately available for comment on the water lien warnings.
Previously, interim Chief Financial Officer David Sabuda said in a statement that Flint is obligated to collect from customers receiving water and sewer services.
"Sewer services have not been affected by the water crisis and tests show the quality of water in Flint has improved," Sabuda's statement said. "We need to show the state that our residents are paying for services the city is providing. Too many uncollected bills for the water and sewer funds will create more financial hardships for the city as we work to move forward."
The new round of shutoff warnings and threatened tax liens comes shortly after the third anniversary of the lead-in-water-crisis and Weaver's recommendation that the Flint stay on the Detroit water system and abandon efforts to treat its own raw water again.