Senators Patterson, Richardville, Birkholz, Olshove, Kuipers, Thomas, Prusi, Bishop and Brown offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 53.

            A resolution proclaiming May 9, 2007, as 811/MISS DIG Awareness Day in the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, 811 is a new, federally-mandated national “Call Before You Dig” number; and

Whereas, It was created to help protect people from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines such as natural gas, cable, telephone, etc., while undertaking digging projects; and

Whereas, Every digging job requires a call--from small projects like planting trees and shrubs, to larger residential ones such as installing mailbox posts, decks, and sprinkling systems.  Large commercial projects such as road and sewer installations, building construction, and other large projects also require utility lines to be marked; and 

Whereas, One phone call to 811 will start the process for getting underground utility lines marked for free.  Beginning May 1, 2007, when you call 811 from anywhere in the country, calls will be routed to the correct local One Call Center.  The local One Call Center will route the call to the proper utility companies which will then locate the approximate location of their utilities; and

Whereas, In Michigan, the One Call Center is MISS DIG, which has been serving residents and businesses for almost 37 years; and

Whereas, Since it began operations in November 1970, MISS DIG has taken almost 15 million calls for locating services, and MISS DIG has been a leader in One Call Center operations--having the first 24-hour center, the first to have a computerized system, the first to offer overhead electric line assistance, and the first to open a satellite center; and

Whereas, MISS DIG has almost 900 members, including utilities, municipalities, and others who value the services provided by MISS DIG’s 50 employees; and

Whereas, MISS DIG recently moved to a new state-of-the-art location in Auburn Hills and will celebrate this occasion and the launch of 811 at an open house on Wednesday, May 9, 2007; and

Whereas, MISS DIG is to be commended for its ongoing partnership with Michigan utilities and municipalities to educate the public about the need to call before digging and its ability to continue providing outstanding service; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That the members of this legislative body do hereby proclaim May 9, 2007, as 811/MISS DIG Awareness Day in the state of Michigan.