Reps. Bradstreet, Acciavatti, Garfield, Tobocman, Vander Veen, Shulman, Sak, Gieleghem, Tabor, Taub, Brandenburg, Caswell, DeRossett, Ehardt, Farhat, Hager, Koetje, Meyer, Middaugh, Minore, Pappageorge, Phillips, Plakas, Shaffer, Spade, Stakoe, Voorhees, Zelenko, Caul, Gillard, Jamnick, Lipsey, Murphy and Sheltrown offered the following resolution:

House Resolution No. 220.

A resolution commemorating April 2004 as Raise the Flags and Dig Safely Month.

Whereas, The first week of April, traditionally the beginning of the construction season, will be known as Raise the Flags and Dig Safely Month; and

Whereas, There continues to be increased construction activity in the state of Michigan. The growth has led to an expansion in damages to underground facilities, which consist of cables and pipes located under the grounds surface.  At times, these incidents have resulted in the loss of property and even serious injury to Michigan citizens. Annually, about 10,000 recorded incidents of damages to underground facilities occur in the state. Michigan’s major gas, electric,
and  telecommunication  companies, as  well  as  other  associated  groups, including  the  AUC: Michigan’s  Heavy Construction Association, MISS DIG System, Inc., and the Michigan Public Service Commission, have come together to develop and implement the best practices designed to decrease such incidents in the future; and

Whereas, The Raise the Flags campaign, sponsored by a utility consortium, draws attention to the need to call MISS DIG.  Many  people  do  not  know  that  under  Michigan  law, MISS  DIG  must  be  called  at  least  three  working  days  before beginning a construction project, which can be as simple as planting a tree, installing a mailbox post, or as complex as erecting an office building or making major road repairs. The campaign encourages contractors and the general public to call MISS DIG before digging, with the required time to allow for staking, respecting the staking flags, and digging carefully; and

Whereas, The Michigan Damage Prevention Board continues its work to increase public safety by developing and implementing appropriate best practices and education programs, which will reduce accidents resulting from damages to underground facilities.  Participants  on  the  board  include  AUC: Michigan’s  Heavy  Construction  Association, Associated Petroleum Industries of Michigan, Consumers Energy, Detroit Edison, Michigan Consolidated Gas, Michigan Electric and  Gas  Association, SBC, SEMCO  Energy, Telecommunications  Association  of  Michigan, MISS  DIG Systems, Inc., and the Michigan Public Service Commission; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body commemorate April 2004 as Raise the Flags and Dig Safely Month; and be it further

Resolved, That  Michigan’s  major  gas, electric, and  telecommunications  companies, the AUC: Michigan’s  Heavy Construction  Association, as  well  as  other  associated  groups, be  commended  for  coming  together  to  find  ways  to decrease the number of incidents that damage underground facilities; and be it further

Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Damage Prevention Board as a reflection of our appreciation for its efforts to ensure public safety.