From what was reported at the time, the Flint city council voted in 2013, seven to one, to withdraw from the Detroit water system and enter a contract with neighboring cities and counties to build a new system that would use Lake Huron water. But it would take three years to build, and Flint had to sign a contract to pay for a portion of the construction costs. After the City Council made its decision, the Emergency Manager approved it, and sent it on to the State Treasurer for final approval. Detroit was upset, and gave notice it would cancel the contract it had with Flint. Flint failed to reach a deal with Detroit, and in April 1914 Detroit stopped supplying water. Flint then decided to obtain water on a temporary basis from the Flint River, until the new system's construction was complete. So the democratically elected city council made the fateful decision. Incidentally, the one dissenting vote against contracting to build a new system was by a council member who want to have a system for Flint - that took its water from the Flint River.
From what was reported at the time, the Flint city council voted in 2013, seven to one, to withdraw from the Detroit water system and enter a contract with neighboring cities and counties to build a new system that would use Lake Huron water. But it would take three years to build, and Flint had to sign a contract to pay for a portion of the construction costs. After the City Council made its decision, the Emergency Manager approved it, and sent it on to the State Treasurer for final approval. Detroit was upset, and gave notice it would cancel the contract it had with Flint. Flint failed to reach a deal with Detroit, and in April 1914 Detroit stopped supplying water. Flint then decided to obtain water on a temporary basis from the Flint River, until the new system's construction was complete. So the democratically elected city council made the fateful decision. Incidentally, the one dissenting vote against contracting to build a new system was by a council member who want to have a system for Flint - that took its water from the Flint River.