A new commission would help decide how to spend $165 million Gov. Rick Snyder has proposed for infrastructure fixes in Michigan.
On Thursday Snyder signed an executive order to create the 21st Century Infrastructure Commission.
The commission will be tasked with identifying long-term strategies and needs when it comes to Michigan's transportation, water and sewer, energy and communications systems.
"The idea is to have this commission look far enough into the future, so that we can deal with issues that we know about now but also hopefully anticipate needs for the future," said Snyder spokesman Ari Adler.
Adler says the 27-member commission will be made up of government and industry experts, including those with expertise in infrastructure design and planning, underground infrastructure, public utilities, and wastewater management.
"I think [the commission] shows the governor's commitment to making sure he is leaving things in better shape, as much as we can," Adler said.
Snyder announced plans for the commission in his State of the State address earlier this year.
The proposal comes in the wake of Flint's ongoing crisis with lead-tainted water tied to old pipes.
