ALLOW TRANSPORTATION FACILITY; TOWNSHIP S.B. 897 (S-1):
ANALYSIS AS PASSED BY THE SENATE
Senate Bill 897 (Substitute S-1 as passed by the Senate)
Sponsor: Senator Darrin Camilleri
Committee: Local Government
Date Completed: 7-10-24
RATIONALE
Grosse Ile Township is a small island community in Wayne County off the coast of southeast
Detroit. There are currently two bridges that individuals can use to cross the Detroit River
between the mainland and Grosse Ile Township. The northernmost bridge, called the Grosse
Ile Toll Bridge, is privately-operated. According to testimony before the Senate Committee on
Local Government, the owner may set the toll, fee, and weight limit for the Bridge, which has
restricted access to the Township. Reportedly, many heavier vehicles must be weight-
controlled to cross the Bridge due to the Bridge's weakness, leading to logistical hardships for
the Township. The owner is considering selling the Bridge to the Township, and the bill would
allow the Township to purchase the Bridge, which could improve its usefulness for the public
by allowing the Township to strengthen it.
CONTENT (COMPANION BILL LINK: H.B. 5779)
The bill would amend Chapter 16 of the Revised Statutes of 1846, which governs
the powers and duties of townships, to do the following:
-- Allow a township with a population between 10,000 and 15,000 individuals,
located in a county with a population greater than 1.5 million, to acquire, own,
or operate a public service facility that provided transportation to the township.
-- Allow the township that owned or operated the facility to charge a user fee.
-- Require a township that owned or operated a facility to implement an inspection
program that complied with Federal law for all bridges owned or operated by the
township to be eligible to receive State and Federal money related to owning or
operating a bridge.
Under the bill, a township with a population between 10,000 and 15,000, located in a county
with a population greater than 1.5 million, could acquire, own, or operate, within or outside
the township's corporate limits, a public service facility that provided transportation to the
township and the township's inhabitants.
"Public service facility" would mean a bridge, a roadway or ramp that supports the bridge,
and any other equipment, building, structure, parking area, appurtenance, or other real or
personal property necessary or desirable for and any future construction to replace a bridge,
the roadway or ramp that supports the bridge, and any other equipment, building, structure,
parking area, appurtenance, or other real or personal property that is necessary for the
bridge.
A township that owned or operated a public service facility that provided transportation to the
township and the township's inhabitants could charge a user fee.
"User fee" would mean a toll, consumption charge, rent, license fee, or another similar or
ancillary charge that is related to the use or purchase of a public service facility. The term
Page 1 of 2 sb897/2324
would include a fee or charge for creating, maintaining, administering, billing, and collecting
an account.
To be eligible to receive State and Federal money related to owning or operating a bridge, a
township that owned or operated a public service facility would have to implement an
inspection program that complied with the Federal requirements for bridge inspection
standards under 23 USC 144 (National Bridge and Tunnel Inventory and Inspection
Standards) for all bridges owned or operated by the township.
Proposed MCL 41.2b
PREVIOUS LEGISLATION
(This section does not provide a comprehensive account of previous legislative efforts on this subject matter.)
Senate Bill 897 is a companion bill to House Bill 5779.
BACKGROUND
Grosse Ile Township in Wayne County would meet the bill's population requirements.
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
The Gross Ile Toll Bridge is privately-owned and operated, which reduces residents' ability to
hold the owner accountable for its condition. Accountability matters because the tolls, fees,
and weight limit of the Bridge affect the daily lives of the Township's inhabitants. If the tolls
or fees were overcharged, it could reduce commerce for the Township, as less people would
be willing to drive across the Bridge and spend money in the Township. If the weight limit
were poorly enforced, that could create unsafe conditions on the Bridge. The Township should
be able to purchase the Bridge to allow residents to participate in decisions about a piece of
critical infrastructure that affects their daily lives.
Legislative Analyst: Alex Krabill
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would allow townships in Wayne County with populations between 10,000 and 15,000
to create a public service facility that provided transportation. It would not have a fiscal impact
on the State. It could have a fiscal impact on the townships if they choose to create this public
service facility. The bill would allow for the collection of fees to pay for this service. Assuming
the township created the public service facility, the bill would increase costs for the township
and increase revenue from the fees. It is unknown whether the fees generated would cover
the full cost of the service.
Fiscal Analyst: Bobby Canell
SAS\S2324\s897a
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.
Page 2 of 2 Bill Analysis @ www.senate.michigan.gov/sfa sb897/2324


Statutes affected:
Substitute (S-1): 41.1, 41.110
Senate Introduced Bill: 41.1, 41.110
As Passed by the Senate: 41.1, 41.110