10/16/12 - The County Board of Commissioners approved a deal last night to allow the Enbridge Energy Companyâs new pipeline to cross the Livingston County Airport. The deal has been in the works since February and includes the payment of $400,000 to the county. Additionally, Enbridge has agreed to bury the pipeline at a depth of seven feet for safety issues and to allow the airport to install new pavement in the future without complications. The airport will remain open during the construction, but its ability to service faster-moving planes will be restricted for seven days as a result with compensation guaranteed for the county if Enbridge goes over that time. However, one local political candidate was unhappy with the boardâs approval. Jeanette DiFlorio, a Democrat who will face William Green for the District 2 seat on the commission in November, told the board last night that it should put off the decision. She says there are more than 75 cases in court right now between Enbridge and Livingston residents over issues of compensation and property damage. She tells WHMI that the county should have used this opportunity to âdrag its feetâ and put pressure on the company to resolve those issues. Airport Manager Mark Johnson approved of the boardâs decision. He says if the board had delayed, Enbridge probably would have sued for eminent domain just like with any other landholder and the special benefits received in the deal would not have been available. Commissioner Dave Domas also spoke against the suggestion. He said the commission should not resort to âChicago-style politicsâ by using executive branch powers to influence proceedings in the judicial branch of government. (TD)
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