Any act or proceeding herein directed or authorized to be performed or conducted by the state highway commissioner may be done by said state highway commissioner in person, or by 1 of his deputies; or the state highway commissioner may generally or specifically deputize any person to hold or conduct any hearing directed by this act and said deputized person shall report his conclusions and recommendations to the state highway commissioner, who shall then make his determination thereon. Any action by such deputy, or any hearing or other proceeding conducted by him shall be deemed to be for the purpose of this act, and have the same legal force and significance as though personally performed by the said state highway commissioner.
MCL 213.198