Flint could name its own experts to oversee the response to the city’s drinking water crisis under a bill just sent to the state Senate floor.
State Senator Jim Ananich is a Flint Democrat who sponsored the bill. He says a locally appointed board would give Flint residents more control over their own destiny.
That’s after decisions by state-appointed emergency managers that created Flint’s water crisis.
He says a local board will be concerned only with fixing what went wrong.
“I think it really helps make sure there’s 100 percent focus on resolving the problem.”
The state Senate Government Operations Committee also adopted a bill to allow Flint to become a Promise Zone that raises money to pay for local students’ two- and four-year college tuitions.
Supporters say it will encourage families to remain in the city.