LANSING – The Michigan House of Representatives on Thursday passed a plan sponsored by State Representative Marie Donigan (D-Royal Oak) that protects jobs and vendors by allowing counties to operate a flea market. Oakland County's flea market closed Oct. 25 because the county had no legal authority to operate it.
"This plan allows the county to have a flea market and hopefully will lead to its reopening," said Donigan, who lead the bipartisan effort to create the plan. "Vendors from around Southeast Michigan count on the flea market to sell their goods and earn a living. With families struggling to make ends meet across the state, we've got to protect people's ability to work. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take action on this plan so the flea market can open in time for the holiday shopping season, which so many of our vendors count on to support their families throughout the year."
Under Donigan's plan, if the county board of commissioners establishes a farmers market or flea market, the county executive or chief administrative officer of that county has authority to regulate the use and operation of the market.
The county-operated flea market was open every Sunday year-round at 2350 Pontiac Lake Road in Waterford. After it was discovered that the county had no legal authority to operate the flea market, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners requested legislation permitting it to operate a flea market or farmers market.