LANSING – State Representative John Kivela (D-Marquette) announced today that Gov. Rick Snyder will release funds to some of the 109th District’s communities to help recover from last winter’s devastating deep freeze. The district will receive more than $620,000, which will be shared among Marquette, Ishpeming, Negaunee, Newberry, Marquette Township and Republic Township.
“Last winter’s historic cold temperatures left local governments using everything in their arsenal from mandated `let water run’ orders, to private contractors to help thaw water mains and reallocating public workers to get water flowing into homes and businesses,” said Kivela. “It was a great effort that was costly and time-consuming, and these funds will help our communities still dealing with the effects of the deep freeze.”
Kivela and other Upper Peninsula legislators initially asked for the state to declare a state of emergency in the U.P. in February, which was followed by Gov. Snyder’s declaring a state of emergency in April. That declaration made some resources available to allow water service to be restored to residents who had gone without water for some time.
“These funds will be a significant help to our communities as they try to prepare for the cold weather that is yet to come this winter,” said Kivela.