County Council Urged To Cope With Growth

Ann Arbor City Administrator Guy C. Larcom Jr. again has called for formation of a County Metropolitan Council in which all local governmental units would meet to deal with problems created by growth. He addressed the County Board of Supervisors. Larcom told the supervisors that the county is growing very rapidly and soon the entire county will have to face up to the problems created by this growth just as Ann Arbor has been for the last 10 or 15 years. Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti and Ypsilanti Township representatives met yesterday in the first of a series of sessions to determine if the three units can cooperate in the extension of utilities in the county. Larcom commented on the role of the Huron Utilities Association, "an extension of the Ypsilanti Township system," which he said has given townships new opportunities to get services and thus develop. Larcom said that this device is possible because townships which join pledge their faith and credit behind HUA bond issues for financing. He said that while townships see this as an alternative to annexing to a city to get services, its use may lead to development of an area which is not otherwise ready for it, relative to fire and police protection, roads, and recreation. Larcom said Ann Arbor operates as a "metropolitan city," providing highways, bridges, parks which serve large parts of the county and working with townships to determine the feasibility of extending services into the county in the Honey Creek and Fleming Creek drainage areas. He also pointed out that there are requirements which may force local sewer service to be incorporated into Wayne County's system, although Ann Arbor prefers to operate its utilities separately. Larcom said the County Metropolitan Council would include Board of Supervisors, the county road commission, city and county planning commissions, county drain commission, all city councils, village councils, township boards, school district boards, the Washtenaw Community College board and representatives of the two universities. The idea was supported by Ypsilanti Mayor John Burton and Board Chairman Bent F. Nielsen. No action was requested or taken by the supervisors yesterday.