Senators Patterson and Basham offered the following concurrent resolution:

            Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 41.

            A concurrent resolution to memorialize the Congress of the United States to provide funding for the dredging of canals around the city of Gibraltar.

            Whereas, The city of Gibraltar in Wayne County is a unique community, with more than five miles of canals bisecting the city and its four islands of residences.  These public transportation routes include access to public and private facilities, including boat ramps and marinas.  Thousands of people use the canals each year; and

            Whereas, With no dredging of the Gibraltar canals since the late 1950s, the use of the canals is today significantly threatened by the buildup of sediment throughout the system.  Boating traffic is hampered by the buildup.  The task of dealing with the Gibraltar canals is made more complex by the results of testing that has identified contamination in the sediment.  This fact will greatly increase the costs of dredging and disposal of the sediment; and

            Whereas, The costs of dredging the canals is far beyond the resources available within the community of Gibraltar, and the canals are available to and used by many more people than residents of Gibraltar.  This work clearly needs to be completed.  The Gibraltar canals are notable components of the Detroit River system, and maintaining the quality of the canals is work that is strongly related to the quality of this vital part of our water transportation network.  It is essential that necessary resources be directed to this task; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), That we memorialize the Congress of the United States to provide funding for the dredging of canals around the city of Gibraltar; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.