City Council To Invite MBA To Explain Toll Hike Plan
By Ryan Schlehuber

The applause heard for the Mackinac Bridge 50th anniversary faded at the St. Ignace City Council meeting Monday, November 19, over recent proposals to raise the bridge tolls, again.

On the agenda was what City Manager Eric Dodson called a "fullout opposition" resolution to Mackinac Bridge Authority's (MBA) two proposals to increase tolls, one of them slating $4 passenger car tolls by the beginning of 2008. The rate increase would help fund future projects such as painting and deck replacement, according to the MBA.

Council did not take any action on the proposed resolution but did instruct Mr. Dodson to invite MBA Executive Secretary Bob Sweeney and members of the board to Council's next regular meeting Monday, December 3, to explain why such a significant toll increase is needed.

The MBA is scheduled to hold a public hearing at Little Bear East Arena and Community Center in St. Ignace the next day, Tuesday, December 4, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

MBA's Proposal A calls for an immediate 60% increase in the fare for passenger vehicles. The fare to travelers would be raised $1.50, from $2.50 crossing fee to $4 per trip, the highest since the bridge was completed in November 1957.

Commuter rates would also increase by 50¢, to $2 per crossing.

Proposal B calls for a two-step rate increase of 50¢ for a passenger car, which increases the one-way fare to $3. In 2013, a second increase of $1 would set the toll at $4 a trip. Commuter rates would remain at $1.50 per crossing until 2013, when they would increase to $2.

All members of the city council agreed that if the MBA resorted to raising the toll rates, that implementing a staggered hike through 2013 would be better than an immediate rate hike to $4.

Councilman Don Gustafson believed the resolution, as he initially read it, was too strong, pointing out that opposing "any" increase in the toll rates goes against the reality of economic times in Michigan, illustrating his remarks with a suggestion that Council might as well oppose gasoline price increases.

"Too me, that's too far," he said about the proposed resolution to oppose any toll rate increase. "But, I feel that that has to be looked at. I believe that a toll increase would be seen as a financial last resort."

Councilman Tom Della-Moretta felt more strongly about the resolution, stating that the MBA is too quick to propose a rate increase soon after it raised toll rates in 2003. He also questioned whether the MBA has appropriately used the funds from raised rates on projects it set out to finish.

Mr. Della-Moretta criticized the MBA's last public hearings on toll increases, calling them "abysmal" from a public relations standpoint by making residents voice their opinion into an audio recorder instead of directly to board members.

"I don't think the Bridge Authority has been very fair with the surrounding community on this," he added. "It's just not good for our communities, and to sit there and say that projects are coming up so we need to raise our fares, you know, the private sector doesn't live like that. Only the public sector decides they cannot live within their own means."

Lynne Piippo, director of the St. Ignace Visitors Bureau, said the proposed increase in toll rates will have a negative impact on tourism.

"It's a difficult decision and we all want the bridge cared for," she said, "but we are the poorest community in the county. It's a huge burden to this community."

Councilman Paul Fullerton said if the rates are increased, the MBA must be certain to use the funding for the projects it intends to use it for.

"That money has to be earmarked for those projects and for those projects only," he said. "We just went through a raise after 30 years or more of not having one and here we are again, and they're doubling it. I'm not sure (the rate increase) is necessary."

Mr. Fullerton was not pleased with the timing of MBA's announcement, either.

"It's hard to investigate that when you only have a month or less to look at it," he added. "It really shocked us. They are out of line, in my opinion."

Mr. Dodson said there is still a chance that the state legislature could fund future bridge projects, however, "politically," he added, "it's being pigeon-holed (by the MBA) to us to support one proposal or the other."

Solid Waste Plan

Amendment Supported

Council supported an amendment to a solid waste plan to allow for two additional landfill areas to be available to area residents, which could open up competition with Waste Management in the future.

The plan was proposed by the Eastern Upper Peninsula Regional Solid Waste Planning Committee.

The city's contract with Waste Management ends in 2010.

The resolution asks local municipalities to support two additional landfill areas, one in Schoolcraft County and another in Presque Isle County.

"Obviously, this doesn't bind us to any services by any other hauler, but it opens the field for an additional company that wants to serve the area," said Mr. Dodson.

Auditor Contract

Extended Three Years

Council approved the city's auditing committee recommendation to renew a three-year contract with its existing auditing firm, Rehman Robson, which includes a 7% increase for 2008 and a 5% increase in the second and third years.

Rehman Robson will be paid $19,250 for its services in the first year, $20,250 the second year, and $21,250 in its final year of the contract.

Though Councilman Willie LaLonde agreed to approve the contract, he asked whether Council should have gone through a bid process. Councilwoman Susan Tamlyn-Massaway replied, "We're happy with the auditor we have now."

Mr. Dodson said a bid process would have been recommended if Rehman Robson requested a 10% increase.

Committee Appointments

Mayor Paul Grondin appointed Mr. LaLonde as the city's representative on the Housing Opportunities Made Equal board, replacing Mrs. Tamlyn-Massaway, who resigned.

Mayor Grondin also created a new committee for a proposed downtown museum for the area's transportation history. He said the committee will consist of five voting members, and Mr. Dodson and Deb Evashevski, the city's Downtown Development Authority (DDA) director, as non-voting members.

He appointed four people to the committee, leaving one seat unfilled. Members include himself, DDA member Don Schairer, Bob Sweeney of the MBA, and Councilman Gustafson. The last member will be an at-large citizen, said Mayor Grondin.

Mrs. Evashevski said she is going to apply for a grant through the Michigan Department of Transportation. Plans are in preliminary stages, she said, stating that she does not know what the cost will be to construct the museum, nor did she know where the site may be.

Christmas Events Approved

Council approved St. Ignace Business Association's request to hold its annual Holiday Open House, Home for the Holidays Parade, and its Christmas tree lighting at the St. Ignace Marina Friday, November 30. The events begin at 6 p.m.

In other action, Council approved the transfer two retired city workers under the city's current cost-of-living benefits coverage through its retirement firm, Municipal Employees' Retirement System of Michigan.

Clerk Renee Vonderwerth said the cost to cover the two retired employees was $60 a year for one, and $96 for the other. The two retirees are Lawrence "Lumpy' Leveille, who worked in the city's police department, and Barb Westover, who worked in the utilities billing department.

Marina Director Eugene Elmer told Council the marina's restroom and shower facility's lock system has been re-coded, owing to too many people knowing the code.

"We haven't changed it since the marina was put in," he said, adding that marina employees have caught teenagers in the restrooms lately. The marina was closed for the season last month.