Council Reiterates Opposition To Bridge Toll Rate Increase
City of St. Ignace
By Ryan Schlehuber

St. Ignace City Council reiterated that it opposes a proposed Mackinac Bridge toll increase during a face-to-face meeting with Mackinac Bridge Authority (MBA) Executive Bob Sweeney at a regular council meeting Monday, December 3.

Mr. Sweeney attended the meeting along with Chief Financial Officer Michael Litzner and Chief Engineer Kim Nowak to discuss the two proposed toll increases that could take affect as early as January 7, 2008.

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 oneway 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.

After discussion, Council agreed to "convey the vehement opposition for Proposal A" to the MBA, and to instruct City Manager Eric Dodson to write a letter to state and federal representatives and Governor Jennifer Granholm requesting that Michigan Department of Transportation help fund certain maintenance projects slated for the bridge, which, coupled with declining traffic, is the reason for the proposed toll rates.

The MBA held a public hearing at Little Bear East Arena and Community Center in St. Ignace Tuesday, December 4, after The St. Ignace News went to press.

The MBA will meet in Detroit Friday, December 21, to discuss, and possibly adopt, new rates, and Mr. Dodson will attend.

The MBA is accepting public comments until Monday, December 10. So far, the agency has collected 200 comments from residents, Mr. Sweeney told Council.

Some Council members took the opportunity to tell Mr. Sweeney of their opposition to any increase and their disappointment that the MBA is planning to impose another increase only five years since it raised rates from $1.50 to $2.50.

Mr. Sweeney told Council that the MBA looked at probably 60 scenarios to raise enough money for upcoming preservation projects, but he could not explain how the MBA settled on the two rate increase proposals.

Councilman Paul Fullerton reiterated his November 19 statement that a toll increase will exacerbate the psychological barrier perceived by tourists because of the existing toll.

Councilman Tom Della-Moretta said the proposals lack creativity and disregard the hardship a toll increase would have on local communities.

"This isn't going to help," Mr. Della-Moretta said. "We're in a real downtime in the state of Michigan, and we're in a worse downtime here. This isn't a good time for this, if there is a good time for this."

He added that the MBA should make a better effort to obtain federal funding, and that raising tolls is a step backward.

Mr. Sweeney said the MBA is still seeking support in the state legislature and is committed to reducing toll rates as soon as enough funding is built up to cover the cost of upcoming projects, although he said it may not be where it needs to be financially until at least 2030 if declining traffic continues.

In other Council matters, a public hearing to discuss the city's 2008 budget was scheduled for its next regular meeting at 8 p.m. Monday, December 17.

Total appropriations for 2008 is proposed to be $7,993,248, which is $2,081 less than last year, reported Mr. Dodson.

Total taxable property, at 16.26 mills, will generate $1,423,520 in revenue, based on a city taxable value of $87,821,121. Of that amount, $1,190,520 of the levy is earmarked to the general fund, $233,000 is earmarked for the Downtown Development Authority, and $78,015 will be transferred to the city's recreation program.

Council tabled a proposal to raise certain zoning permit fees and meeting fees for the Zoning Board of Appeals and Planning Commission. The proposal to raise the fees, requested by Building Inspector Paul Sved, is to recoup expenses from holding special meetings and postage when sending out letters to property owners about a zoning request.

Proposed fees assessed to property owners who request zoning reviews are as follows:

• Regular ZBA meeting, from $100 to $150.

• Special ZBA meeting, remain at $250.

• Special land use hearing, from $175 to $200.

• Planning Commission review of off-premise signs, from 0 to $150.

• Special meeting for off-premise signs, from 0 to $250.

Council agreed with Councilman Don Gustafson that a decision should be postponed to allow Council members time to review the request and compare rates with other municipalities in the area.

Council approved a lease between the city and Michilimackinac Historical Society for the operation and maintenance of Fort de Buade Museum and its three gift shops.

Mayor Paul Grondin announced appointments to a few city committees.

Keith Massaway, of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Board of Directors, and Judi Engle, president of the historical society, were added to the city's Fort de Buade Museum/ tribal liaison committee. They join Councilmen Don Gustafson, Willie LaLonde, Paul Fullerton, and Councilwoman Susan Tamlyn- Massaway, and Mr. Dodson on the committee.

Councilwoman Tamlyn-Massaway was also appointed to the cemetery committee, replacing Jack Ryerse.

Fred Paquin, also a member of the tribal board, was appointed to the city's Harbor Authority, replacing Walter North, who resigned.

Mayor Grondin disbanded the annexation committee, which was formed years ago to discuss the possibilities of expanding the city's limits, and the paintball committee, which considered adding a paintball course at Silver Mountain Ski Hill.

The city paid $115 to Craig Kammers to help replace brick pavers from the sidewalk near the Fort de Buade Museum, damaged when a water pipe broke last week.