Lapeer City Hall Submerged: Burst Water Main Forces Temporary Closure and Relocation

Well, talk about an unwelcome surprise to kick off the new year! Lapeer City Hall, the very heart of local governance, found itself in a bit of a soggy situation recently. Picture this: a full inch of water, just sitting there, right inside the building. It wasn't exactly a planned indoor pool, you know? This unexpected deluge, which cropped up on January 16th, forced a rather swift and necessary decision: temporary closure.

So, what was the culprit behind this watery mess? Turns out, it all stemmed from a rather significant water main break over on Nepessing Street. When such a critical pipe decides to give way, especially in the cold, the repercussions can be widespread and, as Lapeer discovered, can definitely make their way into unexpected places like City Hall. It's one of those things you don't really think about until it happens, but a city's infrastructure is incredibly interconnected.

Naturally, with City Hall essentially out of commission for a bit, the city leadership had to act fast to ensure that essential services for the good people of Lapeer didn't grind to a halt. And they did! While the main building is undergoing its impromptu renovation (read: drying out and repairing), the dedicated city staff have been strategically relocated to other municipal spots around town. It's a testament to their quick thinking, really.

For instance, if you're looking for the City Clerk or the Treasurer's Department, you'll now find them operating out of the Department of Public Works building, located at 2330 N. Lapeer Road. Need to talk to someone about assessing matters? No problem! The Assessing Department has made itself comfortable over at the Parks and Recreation facility, situated at 287 W. Nepessing Street. And for anyone with building or planning inquiries, the folks there are now serving the community from the Lapeer Community Center at 880 Saginaw Street.

The good news amidst all this upheaval is that, thankfully, those crucial contact numbers you rely on haven't changed a bit. You can still reach everyone just as you normally would, which, let's be honest, is a huge relief when you're dealing with administrative tasks. City Manager Dale Kerbyson has been pretty upfront about the whole situation, acknowledging that it's not a quick fix. He's estimating that repairs could take several weeks, perhaps even stretching into a couple of months, depending on the full extent of the damage. We're talking floors, walls, possibly even office furniture and some electronics – the full assessment is still underway.

And for those important civic gatherings, like the City Commission meetings? They'll be taking place at the Lapeer Community Center for the foreseeable future. So, if you're planning to attend the next one, mark your calendar for Monday, January 20th – same time, new temporary location. It's a bit of a shuffle, no doubt, but the message from Lapeer is clear: business will continue, come high water or, well, an inch of water inside City Hall.