Road End Legislation

The Kowall road end legislation (HB 6548), drafted and introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives in early December, died in committee as the 2002 legislative session drew to a close. Unfortunately, with attention necessarily focused on the State's budget crisis, there simply wasn't time to schedule hearings and gain passage prior to adjournment of the legislature in late December.

The favorable news is that road end legislation has now been drafted in bill form and can be reintroduced in the 2003 session . . . and the HLPOA is already working toward that goal through our political contacts in Lansing. On this note, let me take this opportunity to personally thank each of you for your response in corresponding by letter and e-mail with your elected State House and Senate members voicing support for passage of HB 6548. It truly had an impact.

When the road end legislation is reintroduced . . . hopefully, in the very near term . . . it will again prove advantageous to make contact because of the significant number of newly elected members in the House and Senate. For example: If you are registered to vote in either Gerrish or Lyon Township your representative in the House is now Dale Sheltrown (replacing Rick Johnson) and in the Senate it's Michelle McManus (replacing George McManus). Obviously, we want both our representatives to be sensitive to the issues involving Higgins Lake and its watershed.

Ken Dennings,

President Higgins Lake Property Owners' Association