BWL ballot items create more voice, oversight

Two proposed city charter revisions on the Nov. 4 ballot stem from the utility’s failed communication and overall response to the ice storm around Christmas 2013. Between 34,000 and 40,000 businesses and households were without power, some for more than a week.

The ballot proposals put more seats at the utility´s board table and it gives power to the mayor of Lansing during a declared emergency.

One proposal would expand the BWL board of commissioners to include three nonvoting members from communities that are outside of Lansing but are served by the utility.

“For better or worse from the aftermath of the storm, the outlying areas felt like they needed more direct representation,” said Mayor Virg Bernero. “I felt we needed to respond to that. They didn’t feel they had a voice. “ The Lansing BWL is a municipally-owned power company. The BWL board currently has eight seats. All are appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council. Each must reside in Lansing.

East Lansing and Delta Township would get members. Delhi, DeWitt, Meridian, and Lansing townships would rotate an at-large seat. Some officials hope to eventually have voting seats.

“Ownership still belongs to the city and I think that’s important,” Bernero said. “I think it demonstrates that we take customer service seriously. We care about the suburbs who are also served by the Board of Water & Light.

“To go beyond a voice, the outlying communities would have to make an investment in the board, they’d have to be talking about buying a piece of it. This is what we can do without them sharing the debt and the cost and so-on.”

The second proposal gives the Lansing mayor administrative and executive authority over BWL during declared emergencies.

Bernero said he hopes he never has to use the authority.

“If you look at how the charter treats the other emergency departments, when there is a declaration of emergency the mayor is sort of a commander in chief if you will. That would be somewhat of a relevant analogy.”

The amendment would allow him to use BWL resources in case of a declared emergency or city resources for a BWL emergency.

“It’s sort of an all hands on deck,” he said.