Flint will become the central meeting place of government leaders from throughout the country to discuss future water safety.

Mayor Karen Weaver will host a meeting of her political peers representing cities in multiple states where the aging infrastructure’s impact on water supply is a concern. The leadership will attend a closed discussion of the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) Oct. 12, followed by a news conference at 10:15 a.m. at Factory One, 303 W. Walter St.

USCM President and Columbia, S.C. Mayor Steve Benjamin, Lima, Ohio Mayor David Berger and Napa, Calif. Mayor Jill Techel, who serve as co-chairs of the USCM Water Council, are scheduled to attend. Tom Cochran, CEO and executive director of the USCM, will also participate.

“It’s a huge think tank for thought leaders and mayors across the country,” says Candice Mushatt, city spokesperson.

Along with concerns about water systems and health in their respective cities, Weaver and the mayors will discuss “infrastructure, affordability and access,” Mushatt says. Weaver will also describe some of the green jobs and “blue jobs” – careers related to water system enhancement – that Flint has been developing locally.

The meeting of the USCM will discuss some of the information Weaver is expected to share with the public at her Oct. 18 “State of the City” address, Mushatt says.

USCM will also release a new report highlighting how changes in the bidding process can trim costs to municipal governments that already provide about 98 percent of yearly investments for water infrastructure.

  Factory One, Flint water, MAYOR DAVID BERGER, MAYOR JILL TECHEL, Mayor Karen Weaver, MAYOR STEVE BENJAMIN, U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS

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