The first meeting of the newly-created Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority is set for Wednesday in St. Ignace. The panel is made up of three people who will oversee the construction of a tunnel in the bedrock beneath the Straits that will house Enbridge Energy’s oil and gas pipelines. The Canadian energy company will pay for the construction of the tunnel to move its aging pipelines off the floor of the straits.
An Iron Mountain man has resigned from the authority, just one day after being appointed by Governor Rick Snyder. Geno Alessandrini is the business manager for the Michigan Laborers’ District Council.
He’ll be replaced by J-R Richardson of Ontonagon. He is the vice president of PM Power Group. He currently serves as vice chair of the Natural Resources Commission with a term expiring Dec. 31, 2018 and was recently named 2018 Outstanding Conservationist by The Upper Peninsula Sportsmen’s Alliance. Richardson holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Michigan Technological University. He will represent Republicans and fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Geno Alessandrini.
Richardson will serve a six-year term expiring December 12, 2024 and is subject to the advice and consent of the Senate.
