Reps. Nofs, Accavitti, Adamini, Anderson, Brown, Byrnes, Clack, Condino, Dillon, Elsenheimer, Farrah, Gleason, Gonzales, Green, Hildenbrand, Hopgood, Huizenga, Kolb, LaJoy, Leland, Lemmons, Jr., Lipsey, Mayes, Meisner, Meyer, Miller, Murphy, Polidori, Proos, Sak, Shaffer, Sheltrown, Spade, Tobocman, Vander Veen, Waters, Wojno and Zelenko offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 40.

A resolution commemorating April 2005 as Raise the Flags and Dig Safely Month in the state of Michigan.

Whereas, The month 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 steady construction activity in the state of Michigan. This construction activity has sometimes led to damages to underground facilities, which consist of cables, pipes, and lines located under the ground’s surface. At times, these incidents have resulted in the loss of property and even serious injury to Michigan’s citizens. Annually, there are thousands of recorded incidents of damages to underground facilities that occur in Michigan. Michigan’s major gas, electric, and telecommunications companies, as well as other associated groups and the Michigan Public Service Commission, have worked 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, is celebrating its fifth anniversary in 2005. The damage prevention program has been successful in helping to educate utility customers and the general public about safe digging, and has helped reduce accidents and damages to underground facilities. The program is recognized by Michigan’s major gas and electric utilities such as Consumers Energy and DTE Energy, as well as other associated groups such as the Michigan Infrastructure and Transportation Association, Michigan Damage Prevention Board, MISS DIG System, Inc., and the Michigan Public Service Commission; and

Whereas, The Raise the Flags campaign has also demonstrated success in educating residents about the Michigan law that requires calling MISS DIG at least three working days before beginning a construction project. These projects can be as simple as planting a tree, installing a mailbox post or deck, and as complex as erecting an office building, residential home, or making major road repairs. The Raise the Flags campaign encourages contractors and the general public to call MISS DIG before digging, wait the required amount of time before digging, respect the staking flags, and then dig carefully; and

Whereas, We applaud the ongoing success of this program to educate Michigan residents on how to dig safely when undertaking construction projects; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body commemorate April 2005 as Raise the Flags and Dig Safely Month; and be it further

Resolved, That the parties involved in the Raise the Flags campaign be commended for coming together to find ways to decrease the number of incidents that damage underground facilities and reduce the risk of injury to Michigan citizens.