S.B. 910: FIRST ANALYSIS - "PRESTON SCHMIDT OVERPASS"

"PRESTON SCHMIDT OVERPASS" - S.B. 910: FIRST ANALYSIS

Sponsor: Senator Bob Emerson

Date Completed: 2-7-00

RATIONALE

The late Preston Schmidt served as the supervisor and constable of Flint Township and was a member of the Genesee County Commission and the county road commission. While serving as constable approximately 30 years ago, Schmidt reportedly was responding to an emergency call when he was delayed while waiting for a train to clear the railroad crossing at Bristol Road in Flint Township. After that incident, Schmidt apparently worked to have an overpass constructed at Bristol Road to span the railroad tracks located on Michigan highway M-121 in Genesee County. An overpass now is being constructed in that area to bypass the railroad crossing and to improve the accessibility of Bishop Airport to traffic from eastbound I-69. Construction is expected to be completed by June or July 2000, and some people believe that the overpass should be named in honor of Schmidt to recognize his many years of work advocating for its construction.

CONTENT

The bill would create a new act to require that the Bristol Road overpass, which spans the railroad tracks located on Michigan highway M-121 in Genesee County, be known as the "Preston Schmidt Overpass".

The State Department of Transportation would have to provide for the erection of suitable markers at the approach to the overpass indicating the name of the overpass only when sufficient private contributions were received to pay the cost of erecting those markers.

ARGUMENTS

(Please note: The arguments contained in this analysis originate from sources outside the Senate Fiscal Agency. The Senate Fiscal Agency neither supports nor opposes legislation.)

Supporting Argument

Naming the overpass after Preston Schmidt would recognize the efforts of the Flint Township resident and public official who advocated for the construction of the overpass. The Genesee County Road Commission has passed a resolution in support of naming the overpass after Schmidt, and reportedly has agreed to pay the costs for erecting markers indicating the name of the overpass.

- Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no impact on State funds. The amount of private contributions necessary to erect the markers is estimated at $820 per marker.

- Fiscal Analyst: B. BowermanA9900\S910A

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.