Not sure if this fiasco made it too Slowtwitch. Leelanau county initially wanted to prosecute whoever made decisions to close the roads. They faced heavy criticism and are now backing off.

https://www.record-eagle.com/...mp;utm_medium=social

Here is the original motion if it wasn’t already posted. This is what caused the fiasco.

There’s also the 80-year old so upset at closed road he tried to run over the cop. He’s now facing felony charges.

Here it is. Leelanau County!


LEELANAU COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Resolution XXXX October 17, 2019

RESOLUTION ON THE CLOSING OF PUBLIC ROADS FOR IRONMAN RACE

Whereas,​​The Michigan Constitution in Section 29 states that the “right of all counties, townships, cities and villages to the reasonable control of their highways, streets, alleys and public places is hereby reserved to such local units of government.”; and

Whereas, ​​Michigan Act 200 of 1969 (MCL 247.321 - 247.328) states “ No driveway, banner or parade is lawful except pursuant to a permit issued in accordance with this act unless otherwise provided. … A permit to temporarily close a highway, or a portion of the highway, for a parade, celebration, festival, or similar activity,… may be issued by the highway authority only if requested by an authorized official designated by resolution of the governing body of a city, incorporated village, or township. Requests for temporary closing of highways shall indicate the time and date the highway is to be closed to traffic, the date and time the highway is to be reopened to traffic, and other information as the highway authority may require. A permit shall not be issued for the partial or complete closing of a highway unless the highway authority is satisfied that adequate arrangements have been made for the handling of highway traffic during such closure. “Highway” means a state trunk line highway or a county road including the entire right of way.“Highway authority” means the department of state highways in the case of state trunk line highways, and the board of county road commissioners in the case of county roads. … No permit shall be issued pursuant to this act unless there is compliance with other provisions of law or ordinances.”; and

Whereas,​​Michigan Act 300 of 1949 (MCL 257.676b) states “a person, without authority, shall not block, obstruct, impede, or otherwise interfere with the normal flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic upon a public street or highway in this state, by means of a barricade, object, or device, or with his or her person; and

Whereas, ​​A Michigan Temporary Traffic Control Order was issued for the race by MDOT and the Michigan State Police, which has the authority (MCL 257.628) to create such an order, which only involves regulating parking and speed limits on state trunk-lines. Approval of road closings, however, are governed separately (MCL 247.321 - 247.328). The Michigan Temporary Traffic Control Manual does not give the MDOT or the State Police authority to approve any special event involving road closure; and

Whereas,​​On August 25, 2019, an Ironman 70.3 race was held, which included the closing of a portion of CR-677 and M-72 in Leelanau County (along with multiple other highways in other jurisdictions). The respective Highway Authorities were: MDOT for M-72, and Leelanau County Road Commission for CR-677; and

Whereas,​​While there may have been a verbal request by a neighboring municipality, there evidently was no request by any local unit of government for the closing of any highway within Leelanau County; and

Whereas,​​While there was a MDOT permit issued for a change in speed limits for the race, there evidently were no road closure permits issued for the race by either Highway Authority -- so the closures were in violation of state law; and

Whereas,​​The Ironman organization is owned by the private World Triathlon Corporation (WTC), which is in turn owned by the Dalian Wanda Group, a Chinese conglomerate. WTC was valued by the WSJ in 2015 at $900 million, and reported gross revenue rising at 40% for 4 straight years, net operating profits of 40% per year, and makes a substantial profit on Ironman races; and

Whereas,​​The maintenance of highways in Leelanau County are paid for via gas taxes, vehicle registration fees, and local millage -- none of which are paid for by bicyclists; and


Whereas​​​The Ironman Race provided a Traffic Impact Plan showing planned lane closures and times, but on the actual race day the lane closures and times did not match the Traffic Impact Plan (Motorists were not allowed onto M-72 Westbound at times from multiple intersections, M-72 Eastbound was closed prior to the advertised time); and

Whereas​​​The Ironman Traffic Impact Plan did not provide detours around the closed lanes for Leelanau County residents wishing to cross the closed lane of M-72 into or out of Leelanau County, forcing residents to stop and wait (sometimes for significant time periods, if they were allowed to cross at all); and

Whereas​​​A portion of M-72 (which is mostly entirely within Leelanau County for the race route) was closed for the entire length of the County, in effect cutting off the entire Leelanau peninsula and most of Leelanau County motorists from local churches, workplaces, and the regional hospital; and

Whereas​​​The road closures, traffic congestion, and length of time of the event adversely effected emergency response times, increasing the risk to Leelanau County residents, and that there were at least two accidents/instances attributed to the race; and

Whereas​​​At least some of the police officers assigned to perform traffic control duties (primarily out-of-area State Police officers unfamiliar with the area) for the race were provided a one sheet map of the intersection they were assigned, and were provided no information on detours, alternative routes, lane closures or times, or any information to provide motorists other than to go back the way they came; and

Whereas ​​Many motorists were surprised to encounter the road closures due to inadequate or incorrect advertising by Ironman race officials, and became angry and frustrated; and

Whereas​​​Many motorists blamed the police officers for the closure, eroding the public trust and confidence in the police, who viewed the officers as being there to help the race organizers instead of the public; and

Whereas​​​The Ironman Race crossed multiple jurisdictions (city,townships,counties, and state), and involved agencies at the state level (MDOT and State Police), investigation by the State Attorney General is appropriate.


Therefore, it is resolved by the Leelanau County Board of Commissioners as follows:

Resolved,​​That a complaint be filed with the State Attorney General for the closure of the highways in violation of State law (MCL 247.322, 257.676b), and to identify and prosecute the individuals who authorized or performed the closure; and

Resolved, ​​That a request be sent to the Leelanau County State legislators (Senator Darwin Booher and Representative Curt Vanderwall) for them to request a State Attorney General Opinion on whether an authorized official designated by resolution of the governing body of a city, incorporated village, or township may request a permit to temporarily close a highway, or a portion of the highway (as provided in MCL 247.323) outside their area of jurisdiction (in apparent violation of Section 29 of the Michigan Constitution), and whether MDOT and /or the State Police have the unilateral authority to close highways for special events; and

Resolved,​​That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to MDOT, Leelanau County Road Commission, Grand Traverse County Road Commission, Michigan State Police, Leelanau County Sheriff Department, Grand Traverse County Sheriff Department, Traverse City Police Department, Traverse City Commission, and the Michigan Attorney General, and authorize the County Administrator to represent the County in this complaint.

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