State Rep. James DeSana, R-Carleton, alongside special guests Representatives Jamie Thompson and Rylee Linting, will be hosting a town hall to discuss the potential removal of a local dam and its impact on the surrounding community.

Conversation around the removal of the Flat Rock Dam has been occurring for some time, and a feasibility study was recently done to weigh impacts. The town hall will take place on Monday, April 7 at 7 p.m. at Huron High School, located at 32044 Huron River Drive in New Boston,and willprovide an opportunity for residents, local officials, and key stakeholders to voice their concerns and gather information on the issue.

“The potential removal of this dam is an issue that will have lasting impacts on our community, and it is critical that residents have a platform to express their concerns and receive the necessary information to make informed decisions,” said DeSana. “We want to ensure that the voices of our constituents are heard and that all perspectives are considered.”

The discussion will feature insights from local officials, concerned residents, and an invited representative from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, share their viewpoints, and engage in a constructive dialogue on the future of the dam and its surrounding areas.

“People are concerned about what removing this dam would mean for property values, parks and waterways that families use and enjoy, flood management, and more. All of this should weigh into this decision and what the best way forward is,” said Thompson. “We want to make sure voices in our area are heard because, at the end of the day, that’s where the impact is. It’s not impacting some bureaucrat in Lansing.”

“It’s important for state government to be transparent with our Downriver community,” added Linting. “This means keeping people we represent informed, getting their questions answered, and sharing details about what these changes would mean for them. I look forward to discussing this pressing issue and providing people with transparency they expect and deserve.”