HB 4141/SB 481

The Michigan Senate has already returned for the fall session and the House is scheduled next week. That signals the opportunity for public hearings by our elected state officials. Rest assured the HLPOA has been working very hard with "key" legislators in both the Senate and House during summer recess in an effort to schedule public hearings on HB 4141 and SB 481 (proposed road end legislation) in the coming months.

Currently, Representative John Stakoe's bill (HB 4141) rests in the House Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Committee, chaired by Representative Susan Tabor. Senator Wayne Kuiper's bill (SB 481) is assigned to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs, chaired by Senator Patricia Birkholz. We've been advised that both these committees plan to hold formal hearings. In a recent meeting with Senator Michelle McManus she agreed to would contact Senator Birkholz and encourage her to schedule the Senate hearing in the near term.

As soon as I receive word on the scheduled dates I will announce the time and place on this web site so interested members can plan to attend. Obviously, the HLPOA plans to aggressively support these bills. We understand that representatives from the DNR, DEQ, Michigan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC) and the Michigan Township Association (MTA) are also supportive of this legislation, where public roads terminate at the water's edge of Michigan's inland lakes and streams.

Ken Dennings,

President Higgins Lake Property Owners' Association