Highland Park mayor calls for state of emergency amid $24M GLWA bill

The city of Highland Park currently owes the Great Lakes Water Authority $24 million in unpaid water bills. Tensions ran high Monday night as the city council voted against hiring legal counsel amidst the ongoing fight with GLWA. "Just want to make sure I have this clear. [The] city of Highland Park is going into bankruptcy discussions and members of council have voted not to retain an attorney to represent us in these proceedings,” Highland Park's City Council President Jamal K. Thomas said. The 3-2 vote was confusing to members and the mayor who now fear the $24 million tab will fall on the lap of taxpayers.