Court To Determine Fate Of Southfield Church's Controversial Plan To Drill For Oil
SOUTHFIELD (WWJ) - An Oakland County court will decide the fate of a plan to drill for oil at a busy Southfield church -- a plan that has divided the community.
City leaders on Wednesday morning will urge Judge Michael Warren to issue a preliminary injunction to halt oil drilling at Word of Faith International Christian Center, located along 9 Mile and Evergreen roads.
A judge last week signed a temporary restraining order prohibiting Jordan Development from starting any work at church. The city also filed a lawsuit Friday against the Traverse City-based company, which was granted a permit to drill by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.
The city currently has a moratorium in place that prohibits oil drilling and mining through April 28.
The plan to drill for oil has caused a rift in the community. Many in opposition have voiced concerns that drilling would lower property values, increase emissions and pose a risk of contamination. Residents like Rosemary Allen are wary to trust the state because of the Flint water crisis.
"We will not allow our community to be used as an experiment," Allen said at a public meeting last month. "We're talking human lives here, let the church say amen. So no means no to drilling."
Church leaders have said the potential revenue would allow them to excel their ministry and mission work. Supporters say the church has a right to do what it wants on its property, as long as it has the required approval from the state.
"Word of Faith is within the guidelines required by the DEQ, the most stringent group in the country when it comes to oil drilling," said member Stephanie Jones.
Ben Brower, with Jordan Development, has said the drilling won't put residents in danger. He told WWJ's Vickie Thomas there are already 48 wells producing oil in Oakland County — including one on Michigan State University's Troy campus. Brower said Wayne County has 28, with one behind Costco in Livonia and one on the campus of Schoolcraft College. He said St. Clair County has 475 and Macomb County has 158.