Flint’s public works director has resigned.
Howard Croft played a highly visible role in the city’s drinking water crisis.
Appointed by Flint’s emergency manager in 2011, Croft oversaw the city’s switch from Detroit water to the Flint River, and back again after serious problems developed from the river water.
During the 18 months the city of Flint drew its drinking water from its namesake river, Howard Croft often received the brunt of the public’s anger. Croft was the point man for explaining why the city's drinking water was safe or was improving.
As the city’s drinking water crisis deepened, Croft stressed the importance of addressing the problem in people’s homes.
“We need to get out there and test,” Croft said. “We need to get out there and find out where there is a concern.”
Croft becomes the latest city official whose tenure was marked by the city’s drinking water crisis to depart city hall.
Earlier this month, voters turned out incumbent Mayor Dayne Walling. Many voters cited Walling’s role in the switch to the Flint River as their reason to voting for his opponent. Karen Weaver was sworn in a week ago as Flint's new mayor.
