BAY CITY, MI -- Bay City officials head to Lansing next week for the first of what's expected to be many talks with the state on taking over Independence Bridge.
Bay City Commission President Andrew Niedzinski has called a meeting for Feb. 22 with Michigan Department of Transportation Director Kirk Steudle to gather more information about the state's willingness to connect M-15 to I-75 and take over operations and maintenance of the 42-year-old bridge, relieving the city of millions of dollars along the way.
State Transportation Director Kirk Steudle in September 2017.
Officials have said a state takeover of the bridge is the best solution to deal with the city's bridge crisis, but it's not the easiest. City and state officials have tried in the past, but to no avail.
About $9 million in repairs are needed for Liberty and Independence bridges over the next five years and city officials argue they don't have the funds to foot the bill. They proposed to sell both bridges to a private firm for $1 million. The firm would then build a new Independence Bridge and make critical repairs to Liberty, but charge motorists a toll to cross both ways. That proposal was tabled following public outcry.
"This meeting is to get information from (the state) and find out what they think about the bridge," Niedzinski said.
Bay County Executive Jim Barcia said the pitch to the state needs to focus on the plight Bay County faces in replacing the bridge.
"In the past, there seems to have been significant resistance in the state taking it over," Barcia said. "We need to make sure we're being the best advocates for the taxpayers here and exploring every avenue for state and federal assistance."
Barcia said the last documented meeting with MDOT came in April of 2017 when former Bay City Manager Rick Finn and state Sen. Mike Green, R-Mayville, met with Jack Hofweber, manager of Bay City's MDOT office, about a state takeover of Trumbull Street and Independence Bridge.
"It was indicated at that time that MDOT didn't believe it served as a trunkline," he said. "We need to convince the state that it's common sense to connect these state highways."
City and county officials are also exploring the possibility of a countywide millage to fund repairs for the bridge, but have admitted it could be a tough sell. Township supervisors across Bay County have said they wouldn't support a millage for Bay City bridges if the package doesn't include funds for road improvements in their municipalities.
In addition to Niedzinski and Barcia, others invited to the meeting include, state Rep. Brian Elder, D-Bay City; Bay City Commissioners Kerice Basmadjian, 7th Ward, and Ed Clements, 8th Ward; Bay City Mayor Kathleen Newsham; Bay City Manager Dana Muscott; Bay City Public Works Director Robert Dion; Bay County Road Commission Manager Jim Lillo; MDOT Bay City Manager Jack Hofweber; MDOT Regional Engineer Robert Ranck; Bay Area Chamber of Commerce CEO Ryan Tarrant; and Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance CEO Matt Felan.
Elder has previously said it would be a "big boulder to push up the hill," referring to the state taking over a bridge.
But it could help that Steudle, the director of MDOT, has Bay County connections. While he hails from Adrian, he previously served on the Essexville City Council from 1995 to 1999 before working his way up the chain with the state's transportation department.
"He's a Bay County guy," Barcia said. "Maybe that can help us."