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Metro Detroit resident angry over broken seawall they say wasn't built right

Posted at 11:38 PM, May 14, 2018
and last updated 2018-05-15 07:09:23-04

There are always two sides to every story, even when it comes to weather and a flood of emotion that goes along with it.

Neighbors in Grand Beach, which is a lakefront property in Frenchtown Township, fear the worst every time there is a threat of wicked weather.

On April 15th Mother Nature blew through the town with extreme force. 

Rain and wind caused so much damage, a big portion of the seawall completely crumbled. The flooding was massive. 

Now, the question is who is responsible for repairing it? The collapsed seawall destroyed multiple properties along the lake.

According to the Township Supervisor and residents, there is a ordinance on the books stating it is up to the homeowner to make the repairs.

However, some believe the wall was not built the way it should have been. Many say it was not tall enough to withstand the wrath of unpredictable storms.

Now, that being said, they want help paying to rebuild the seawall.

“I sympathize with them, but there is an ordinance. It’s sad and I feel sympathy for the people along the lake but they bought the property and have to be responsible for what they have,” says James McDevitt, Frenchtown Township Supervisor.

McDevitt says a team is in place to sandbag the area, hoping to keep the water away, until there is a permanent fix.