Section 324.76504 - Mackinac Island state park; control and management by commission; quorum; conducting business at public meeting; notice; powers of commissioners; rules; deputy sheriffs; disposition of moneys; availability of writings to public; annual report; statement of receipts and expenditures; recommendations and suggestions(1) The Mackinac Island state park shall be under the control and management of the commission, and a majority of the members of the commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. The business which the commission may perform shall be conducted at a public meeting of the commission held in compliance with the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275. Public notice of the time, date, and place of the meeting shall be given in the manner required by the open meetings act, 1976 PA 267, MCL 15.261 to 15.275.(2) The commission shall have the exclusive right to do either or both of the following: (a) Lay out, manage, and maintain the park and preserve the old fort and other property held by the commission on or acquired by the commission after August 6, 2001.(b) Promulgate and enforce rules not inconsistent with the laws of this state and necessary to implement the commission's duties.(3) The commission may do 1 or more of the following: (a) Enter into leases and establish prices for rentals or privileges upon property controlled by the commission.(b) Sell or lease as personal property buildings or structures acquired by the commission in settlement of delinquent land rentals.(c) Employ a director and other persons as may be needed.(4) The rules of the commission shall apply to all roads situated on Mackinac Island state park lands. The commission shall not make a rule permitting the use of motor vehicles except motor vehicles owned by the state, a political subdivision of the state, or by a public utility, and used in the exercise of its franchise. The commission may provide by rule for the issuance of temporary permits for the operation of motor vehicles over roads situated on state park lands. The commission may grant permits pursuant to part 13 for the use of lands for the expansion of existing cemeteries, under terms and conditions as the commission prescribes. The commission may also grant privileges and franchises for waterworks, sewerage, transportation, and lighting, for a period of not more than 40 years. The commission shall prescribe by rule the maximum number of horse drawn vehicles for hire that may be licensed by the commission for operation within the park.(5) The sheriff of the county of Mackinac, upon the application of the commission, shall appoint 1 or more persons who shall be designated by the commission as deputy sheriffs in and for the county, and who shall be employees of the commission but who shall not receive fees or emoluments for services as deputy sheriffs. The commission may establish the compensation of the persons employed by the commission, but a debt or obligation shall not be created by the commission exceeding the amount of money at its disposal at the time.(6) All money received from rentals or privileges shall be paid promptly into the state treasury to be credited to the general fund and to be disbursed as appropriated by the legislature. The commission, in consideration of the furnishing of fire protection, street service, sewerage service, and other public service agreed upon, may remit reasonable rentals as the commission determines from leases of property acquired by the state under the general property tax act, 1893 PA 206, MCL 211.1 to 211.157, and deeded to the commission, to the several tax assessing units in which the property is situated as provided in that act, in proportion to the delinquent taxes and special assessments of the units canceled against the description of land.(7) A writing prepared, owned, used, in the possession of, or retained by the commission in the performance of an official function shall be made available to the public in compliance with the freedom of information act, 1976 PA 442, MCL 15.231 to 15.246. The commission shall provide to the governor an annual report and statement of receipts and expenditures, and recommendations and suggestions as the commission considers proper.Amended by 2004, Act 325, s 60, eff. 9/10/2004.Add. 1995, Act 58, Imd. Eff. 5/24/1995 ;--Am. 2001, Act 78, Eff. 8/6/2001.