House Bill 4597 (Substitute H-2)
First Analysis (9-28-99)
Sponsor: Rep. Alan Sanborn
Committee: Transportation
THE APPARENT PROBLEM:
Doug Carl served with great distinction as a State Representative of the 26th Representative District in the Michigan House of Representatives from 1984-86, and as a State Senator from the 9th Senate District in the Michigan Senate from 1986 until his untimely death in 1997. During his thirteen years as an elected state officeholder, Mr. Carl served as chairman of the Senate Transportation and Tourism Committee, chairman of the Economic Development Committee, vice-chairman of the Finance Committee, and as a member of the Family Law, Criminal Law, and Corrections Committee, and also as a member of the Criminal Justice and Urban Affairs Committee.
Before being elected to serve in the Michigan legislature, Mr. Carl served as an elected official in local government as a member of the Macomb County Board of Commissioners from 1980-82.
To recognize his career of public service which spanned nearly two decades, the citizens of his community would like to honor Doug Carl by naming a portion of a state highway after him.
THE CONTENT OF THE BILL:
House Bill 4597 would create a new act to specify that a portion of highway M-53 (located between 27 Mile Road and 34 Mile Road in Macomb County) be designated as the Doug Carl Memorial Freeway. The bill would direct the Department of Transportation to erect suitable signs when sufficient private contributions are received to pay the cost of erecting suitable markers.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Doug Carl was born in Almont, Michigan on August 12, 1951. Mr. Carl attended Romeo High School, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Michigan State University. He worked as a stockbroker before entering public service.
In 1983, Mr. Carl married his wife Maria. He is survived by his wife and their daughter, Colleen.
Mr. Carl was a member of the Rochester Hills Baptist Church, the Republican Party, the Sterling Heights Area Chamber of Commerce, the Romeo-Washington Chamber of Commerce, and the Michigan Council on Alcohol Problems.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Fiscal information is not available.
ARGUMENTS:
For:
Senator Doug Carl espoused a political philosophy that held family values and personal freedom in high regard. This tribute to Senator Doug Carl is particularly fitting, because he served as Chairman of the Michigan Senate committee that addressed transportation issues. It is fitting, too, to recognize a man so able and widely respected, both by his constituents in Macomb County and by all who served with him in local and state government.
For:
In keeping with Senator Carl's example on tributes of this kind while he chaired the Senate's Transportation Committee, House Bill 4597 was amended to ensure that the signs erected in Senator Carl's memory will be paid for with contributions from his friends, and not with government funds. Although the total savings would depend on the actual size and number of signs, this amendment likely will save state taxpayers more than $4,000, since in previous tributes of this kind, the House Fiscal Agency has noted that Department of Transportation sources estimate sign fabrication costs for one four foot by eight foot sign at $14 per square foot (or about $450), and installation costs at $1,200 to $1,800 per sign, for a total of between $3,300 and $4,500 to fabricate and install the customary two signs.
POSITIONS:
There are no positions on the bill.
Analyst: J. Hunault