Testimony: Health director 'glib and dismissive' on Flint water crisis

(WJBK) - Revealing testimony in day four of the preliminary hearing connected to the Flint water crisis.

One of the governor's top aides implied that Gov. Rick Snyder may have known more and known it sooner that he admitted.

Another man testified that the state's director the health and human services didn't respond in a timely manner, either.

Prosecutor:  "Did you ask Dr. (Nick) Lyon questions about legionella?

"Most definitely," said Dr. Lawrence Reynolds.

But he didn't get very many answers. Reynolds, a member of Snyder's Flint Water Advisory task force, was asked about his communication with Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Director Nick Lyon.

Prosecutors claim Lyon knew about potential the legionnaire’s outbreak in Flint but failed to notify the public.

"I asked him if he had any information he wanted to give us about legionella or a possible legionella outbreak," Reynolds said. "And his response was 'That's over.'"

Lyon is charged with manslaughter and misconduct in office for the December 2015 death of a Flint resident.

Reynolds told the court that Lyon was "glib and dismissive" when it came to details about an outbreak.

"People can choose to lie or omit facts as they so choose and that's what I felt was going on," Reynolds said. "Because I did expect a higher quality and level of information from the director of Health and Human Services."

Lyon's communication was considered poor across the board.

One of the issues that came out in the task force was that communication between the local health department, the state health department and physicians was less than optimal. Actually it was problematic."

Later in the day, Harvey Hollins who works directly for Gov. Rick Snyder as director of urban initiatives took the stand.

He testified that he discussed a possible legionella issue with the governor in December of 2015.

When an outbreak was announced in early 2016, Gov. Snyder said that was the first he heard of it.

The hearing adjourned today without a decision. It will resume again in November.

Lyon faces up to 20 years in prison on each charge.