Public Works Association Honors Legislators Lockwood, Gilbert, Birkholz

The Michigan Chapter of the American Public Works Association held their annual conference last week and honored three legislators with their inaugural "Friend of Public Works" award.  State Senator Jud Gilbert (R-Algonac), State Senator Patricia Birkholz (R-Saugatuck), and former State Representative Patricia Lockwood (D-Fenton) received their awards last Thursday night at the conference awards banquet.  Each of them were recognized for their contributions and support of transportation and water/sewer infrastructure.  Senator Gilbert was recognized for his leadership on the Transportation Funding Task Force report and for his efforts to assist the City of Port Huron throughout the evolution of the Blue Water Bridge Plaza project, interceding numerous times on behalf of the City with state and federal officials.  Senator Birkholz was recognized for her efforts to retain the state's wetlands permitting program as opposed to having that program turned over to the federal government and for her leadership on the Great Lakes Water Compact.  Former Rep. Lockwood has recognized the importance of public works throughout her career at the local and state levels and has been a strong advocate for strategic investment in infrastructure.  In addition to the awards banquet, Arnold Weinfeld provided a presentation for conference attendees on Creating a Prosperous Michigan and the efforts of the League's Center for 21st Century Communities.  Earlier, I provided a legislative update to the attendees during the conference business meeting session.