MEDIO J. BACCO MEMORIAL HWY S.B. 577:
ANALYSIS AS PASSED BY THE SENATE
Senate Bill 577 (as passed by the Senate)
Sponsor: Senator Tom Casperson
RATIONALE
Medio J. Bacco was the founder of the M.J. Bacco Construction Co. in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. According to the Bacco Construction Company's website, the company was established in Iron Mountain by 1915, and handled grading and built concrete roads throughout the Upper Peninsula and in the Wisconsin counties that border Michigan. Mr. Bacco's history includes paving the first section of highway (US-8) in the Upper Peninsula. He and his construction company are considered by some to be an important success story in the Upper Peninsula. It has been suggested that a section of US-8 be named after him to memorialize Mr. Bacco's and his company's history and significance to the Upper Peninsula.
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to designate the portion of highway US-8 from the Michigan border with Wisconsin and extending north to the intersection with highway US-2 in the City of Norway as the "Medio J. Bacco Memorial Highway".
The bill would take effect 90 days after it was enacted.
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
According to the Bacco Construction Company website, Mr. Bacco incorporated his company to create the Bacco Construction Company in 1930. The company is a familiar name in the Upper Peninsula, and holds several awards for its concrete pavement projects. At one time, Mr. Bacco held the Michigan record for the most footage of concrete paving done in a day. The company now owns two portable asphalt plants. According to Committee testimony, the company is one of the oldest that does road contracting in the State. Mr. Bacco also was inducted into the Michigan Construction Hall of Fame, and is recognized as someone who "demonstrated how perseverance, character and entrepreneurship can overcome humble beginnings and achieve success".[1] Naming a portion of the first highway Mr. Bacco paved would be a fitting way to honor and memorialize his construction legacy in Michigan, particularly in the Upper Peninsula.
Legislative Analyst: Drew Krogulecki
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Fiscal Analyst: Michael Siracuse
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.
[1] "Member Biographies: 2015 Inductees - Michigan Construction Hall of Fame of Built Environment - College of Engineering Technology", Ferris State Universty.