Gov. Rick Snyder has replaced two thirds of the Mackinac Straits Corridor Authority members just days before the group is expected to approve a controversial tunnel beneath the Straits of Mackinac.
The decision came after Snyder’s previous appointee, Mike Zimmer, resigned from the authority citing a possible legal conflict. Zimmer is the second appointee to resign.
Nystrom says the authority is expected to move forward with the tunnel agreement at its meeting in St. Ignace.
Michael Nystrom is the new appointee to the authority. He says he followed the tunnel plan through the legislative process and feels prepared to sit on the authority and make a decision on the plan.
"I gave this some good thought and thought it was a great opportunity to be involved in what will soon be a legacy project for the state of Michigan," Nystrom says.
Nystrom says the authority is expected to move forward with the tunnel agreement at its meeting in St. Ignace.
Environmental groups have raised concerns about the tunnel plan and say the shuffling of authority members is another sign that the plan is being rushed through.
The meeting is scheduled to begin Wednesday at 1 p.m.
