State clears way to allow private company to move toward leasing Independence and Liberty bridges Updated Dec 31, 2020; Facebook Share BAY CITY, MI - New legislation recently set the stage for other municipalities to follow in Bay City’s footsteps by entering into public-private partnerships for infrastructure improvements. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer put the final stamp of approval on a set of bills that allow municipalities throughout the state to engage with private companies to improve aging bridge infrastructure and to authorize the implementation of tolling measures. Senate Bills 1215-1218, now PA 353-356, were introduced in mid-November by Senator Ken Horn, R-Frankenmuth, Jeremy Moss, D-Southfield, and Wayne Schmidt, R-Traverse City.