http://www.ilecamera.com/stories/102006/web_20061020004.shtml

PUBLISHED: October 20, 2006

Statement of Grosse Ile Bridge Company President Paul Smoke

on the Michigan Supreme Court's Decision on October 13 to Reject

the Eminent Domain Lawsuit of the Grosse Ile Township Board

"I am greatly relieved and very pleased that the Michigan Supreme Court has finally put an end to the Township Board's completely unnecessary, highly counter-productive and very costly eminent domain lawsuit against the Grosse Ile Bridge Company. 

"The Township Board's litigation during the last three years has been an extremely heavy burden for the Bridge Company and its employees.  I want to thank my friends and supporters in the community who encouraged me to defend the Toll Bridge against eminent domain extremism.

"Throughout the duration of the Township Board's lawsuit, the Bridge Company always remained focused on its top priority which is to provide Grosse Ile residents, businesses and visitors with safe and reliable access to and from the island.  The lawsuit, however, was a constant distraction that made the Bridge Company's work much more challenging. 

"I am grateful to the Bridge Company's employees who maintained an unwavering commitment throughout this ordeal to providing customers of the Toll Bridge with the best possible service.

"On a personal level, this lawsuit has been profoundly disappointing.  I was shocked when the Township Board launched this lawsuit in 2003 against the Bridge Company without even the courtesy of first notifying me of their concerns.  They completely blindsided me with this lawsuit.  I decided to vigorously defend the Bridge Company against their lawsuit because I believed it was right to protect the Toll Bridge.

"There is no one on Grosse Ile who cares or knows more about the stewardship responsibilities for the Toll Bridge than me.  My family built this bridge and maintained it for the past 93 years primarily to serve islanders.  It was particularly hurtful that the Township Board chose to attack me personally and distort the truth about my twenty-four year tenure as president of the Bridge Company.

"I consistently made very expensive investments to improve the Toll Bridge during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s -- long before the Township Board filed its lawsuit -- all of which have all contributed to the span's current excellent condition.  As a result of diligent maintenance and sensible long-term improvements, the Toll Bridge is prepared for the closure of the Wayne County Bridge next year.

"I have always been confident that our legal system would ultimately render a verdict on the Township Board's lawsuit that would protect the best interests of islanders as well as the Bridge Company.  The Michigan Supreme Court's decision finally accomplishes this outcome.  The Bridge Company looks forward to continuing our tradition of excellence and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Toll Bridge in 2013."

About the Grosse Ile Bridge Company

On May 1, 1912, the Grosse Ile Bridge Company (GIBC) was incorporated as a bridge company and Michigan corporation by founding president Edward W. Voigt who was the great-grandfather of current company president Paul J. Smoke.  Between 1912 and 1913, the GIBC financed, designed and constructed the Toll Bridge as the first automobile bridge across the Detroit River between Grosse Ile and the mainland in Riverview (the north end of Monguagon Township at that time). 

Since opening the Toll Bridge on November 27, 1913 (Thanksgiving Day), members of the Smoke family have continuously owned, operated and maintained the span to serve island residents and businesses as well as the entire general public. 

Today, the corporate office of the GIBC is located at 8734 Macomb Street on Grosse Ile while the operations office is located in Riverview near the mainland entrance of the Toll Bridge.  The GIBC employs more than ten employees and numerous temporary workers who live on Grosse Ile and in other Downriver communities.

The GIBC's funding for operations, maintenance and long-term improvements of the Toll Bridge comes entirely from user fees tolls collected from vehicles crossing the span.  No taxpayer funding has ever been used by the GIBC to improve or run the Toll Bridge. 

In fact, vehicles owned by Grosse Ile Township (e.g., ambulances, fire trucks, police cars, Recreation Department vans, Public Service Department trucks, etc...), Grosse Ile schools, Riverview, Wayne County, State of Michigan and most Federal government agencies are not charged the user fee toll to cross the Toll Bridge.  Government-owned vehicles -- the vast majority owned by Grosse Ile Township -- cross the Toll Bridge approximately 1,000 times per month for free.

The GIBC is one of the largest corporate taxpayers in the area.  Each year, the GIBC pays more than $50,000 in taxes to Grosse Ile Township while making another payment of more than $50,000 in taxes to Riverview.

The Toll Bridge handles approximately one-quarter of the vehicle traffic going to and from Grosse Ile each day.  The Wayne County Bridge, located approximately three miles to the south of the Toll Bridge, handles the majority of the island's daily vehicle traffic.

Over the years, the GIBC has received numerous awards from prestigious, national and Michigan-based engineering and infrastructure organizations in recognition of maintaining the Toll Bridge in excellent condition.  As the builder and steward of the span, the GIBC looks forward to celebrating the Toll Bridge's 100 years of continuous operation during 2013. 

For more information about the operations, maintenance and history of the Toll Bridge, view the GIBC's web site at http://www.grosseilebridge.com.

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