Michelle Zdrodowski, chief Public Affairs Officer, GLWA, gave a statement to the Michigan Chronicle about McCormick’s move.
“On Tuesday evening, July 27, 2021, Great Lakes Water Authority Board Members and team members were notified of a pending leadership retirement at the utility. We cannot offer any additional information until after GLWA’s Board of Directors meeting at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, July 28, 2021. A press release will be issued during the meeting,” she said.
Her resignation letter comes on the heels of recent flooding in late June that destroyed valuables in basements that filled with water, cars that stalled on freeways, and more. The flooding also caused sewer backups and water damage inside homes in numerous neighborhoods, especially in Wayne County, which made residents ponder if the issue was preventable, according to the article.
7 Action News reported information on an underground power cable was cut by a construction crew before the flooding; the cable was one of two that run through the Freud pump station, according to the article. Allegedly, GLWA did not know of that problem until it was “too late” according to the story.
McCormick’s resignation letter also details her wants for seeking different career options and ending her contract with the company ahead of time, according to the article. She asked to have that meeting on June 23 — before the flooding took place — but it didn’t happen yet. However, that meeting never occurred.
“It was my hope that I would be able to reach agreement with the board on transition arrangements that would allow a smooth succession for the utility’s continuity and initiatives after my departure,” she wrote, according to the article.
Detroit Water & Sewerage Department Director Gary Brown released a statement regarding McCormick’s resignation:
“As the director of the Great Lakes Water Authority’s (GLWA) largest customer and a member of GLWA’s board, I want to thank Sue McCormick for her many years of service and for guiding the stand-up of GLWA in January 2016. GLWA serves Detroit and 126 other southeast Michigan communities, leasing the infrastructure and facilities from the city of Detroit for at least another 34 years,” Brown said.
“Sue’s resignation today creates an opportunity to focus on improvements in the regional system to address climate resiliency. Detroit residents and businesses and GLWA’s regional customers must have the confidence that when it rains, the regional system is fully functioning,” Brown added. “While no sewer system can prevent backups from all rain events, we must do better together. I look forward to participating in the selection of the next CEO who, in my view, needs to possess broad experience in managing a large water and sewer system that serves diverse communities, and a track record of directing capital improvements that not only effectively manage tremendous daily operations but create the capacity to respond to these larger rainstorms. The GLWA board will conduct a national search for a new CEO and hope to hire a seasoned professional to bring new energy and innovative solutions.”
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