October 19, 2005, Introduced by Senators ALLEN, BISHOP, BIRKHOLZ, KUIPERS, GEORGE, CASSIS, STAMAS, VAN WOERKOM, JOHNSON, GARCIA, GILBERT, PATTERSON, CROPSEY, SANBORN, BROWN, JELINEK, HARDIMAN and McMANUS and referred to the Committee on Transportation.
A bill to amend 1952 PA 214, entitled
"An act authorizing the Mackinac bridge authority to acquire a
bridge connecting the upper and lower peninsulas of Michigan,
including causeways, tunnels, roads and all useful related
equipment and facilities, including park, parking, recreation,
lighting and terminal facilities; extending the corporate existence
of the authority; authorizing such authority to enjoy and carry out
all powers incident to its corporate objects; authorizing the
appropriation and use of state funds for the preliminary purposes
of the authority; providing for the payment of the cost of such
bridge and in that connection authorizing the authority to issue
revenue bonds payable solely from the revenues of the bridge;
granting the right of condemnation to the authority; granting the
use of state land and property to the authority; making provisions
for the payment and security of such bonds and granting certain
rights and remedies to the holders thereof; authorizing banks and
trust companies to perform certain acts in connection therewith;
authorizing the imposition of tolls and charges; authorizing the
authority to secure the consent of the United States government to
the construction of the bridge and to secure approval of plans,
specifications and location of same; authorizing employment of
engineers irrespective of whether such engineers have been
previously employed to make preliminary inspections or reports with
respect to the bridge; authorizing the state highway department to
operate and maintain such bridge or to contribute thereto and enter
into leases and agreements in connection therewith; exempting such
bonds and the property of the authority from taxation; prohibiting
competing traffic facilities; authorizing the operation of ferries
by the authority; providing for the construction and use of certain
buildings; and making an appropriation,"
by amending section 14 (MCL 254.324).
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 14.
The authority, in its own
discretion, is authorized
to
employ such engineering services as it deems necessary and
advisable
in connection with the acquisition and construction of
such
bridge, irrespective of whether such engineer or engineers
have
been previously employed by the authority to make preliminary
inspections
or reports in connection therewith, it being the
legislative
intent and purpose that the disability and restrictions
expressed
in section 4 of Act No. 21 of the Public Acts of the
Extra
Session of 1950, being section 254.304 of the Compiled Laws
of
1948, be removed and rescinded. The authority, in its own
sole
discretion, is also
authorized to employ such legal
and
financial
services as that
it deems necessary to consummate the
financing
of the bridge and the issuance and sale of the bonds ,
and
such any other personnel and employees necessary to operate
and maintain the bridge and carry on the powers and duties
contemplated by this act. The authority may also, in its sole
discretion, contract with any agency, including, but not limited
to, the state transportation department for any business and
strategic planning, finances, investments, risk management,
insurance, inspections, bridge maintenance, bridge repair, bridge
inspection, bridge operation, bridge management, bridge
improvement, bridge control, budgeting, procurement, and related
management functions that the authority deems necessary to assure
continued operation of the bridge.