Legislature Votes To Reduce Breakwall Fees

lakemichigan4-20
lakemichigan4-20

From the Associated Press — Michigan would cut state fees assessed on homeowners who have wave-reducing breakwalls near the Great Lakes shoreline under legislation heading to Governor Rick Snyder’s desk. The Republican-controlled Senate approved the bill Tuesday, on a mostly party-line 23-14 vote, after a House vote last week. The measure includes a new fee structure to use Great Lakes bottomlands for forming a private harbor exclusively for noncommercial recreational watercraft. The bill sponsor, Republican Senator Tom Casperson of Escanaba, has said existing fees are too high and have surprised property owners. Democrats have criticized the bill, saying it is not right for people to put structures on publicly owned land without paying adequate fees.