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Residents press commission on Bay City Bridge Partners tolls and contract dispute; city attorneys continuing negotiations
Summary
Commissioners and dozens of residents raised questions about the Bay City Bridge Partners contract and recent toll notices during public comment. City leaders said attorneys are negotiating with the company and that the city has not imposed a $30 toll on residents.
Several public speakers on March 3 focused attention on the ongoing dispute between Bay City and Bay City Bridge Partners, the private operator of local bridges, urging the commission to take firmer action or to encourage residents to boycott the tolls.
Commissioners and members of the public discussed recent communications from Bay City Bridge Partners that reduced a proposed toll figure in public-facing posts, and residents asked why the firm would "drop" charges if it believed the city had breached the contract. Commissioner Andrea Bernie Overshaw asked why the city continued negotiations rather than terminating the contract; Mayor Gerard and Commissioner Prince said the city’s attorneys are engaged in negotiations and that negotiating is the step before binding arbitration in order to avoid potentially catastrophic financial exposure for the city.
Commissioner Prince said directly during debate: "The $30 never went into effect, did it?" and the clerk recorded a response, "No. It did not." He added that if the city unilaterally voided the contract the city could be required to reimburse the bridge operator’s investment and estimated that cost would be on the order of hundreds of millions of dollars. Several speakers urged stronger action: Jeff Reed, who said he had obtained and reviewed the bridge contracts, urged public pressure and recommended residents close accounts and remove transponders; others called for boycott or legal action.
Commissioner Coakley asked whether other municipalities or county governments were helping pay legal costs; the answer at the meeting was that the city is bearing the legal costs. Commissioners confirmed the city is holding a $5,000,000 account (described in public comments) and that investment interest was being earned; the city manager told commissioners the funds were being invested to earn interest while retained in that account.
No formal motion on the bridge contract or toll policy was taken at the meeting. Commissioners said they expect further updates from city attorneys as negotiations proceed.
Why this matters: The bridge contract dispute affects everyday travel costs for drivers, potential city litigation exposure and large capital obligations; residents asked for transparency and considered consumer actions such as removing transponders or boycotting tolls.
What happens next: City staff will continue working with outside counsel and report status to the commission; citizens urged more public updates and fuller disclosure of negotiation steps.
