Mackinaw City officials want to open a conversation with the City of Mackinac Island about the possibility that the Island may limit its ferry services to one boat company, establishing a monopoly for ferry service to Mackinac Island. Some in the village are concerned that such a move would negatively impact the local economy, and the topic was brought up at two Mackinaw City village meetings last week. The village sent a letter to the City of Mackinac Island asking about its plans Thursday, August 26.

“I brought this up because there's been a great deal of conversation on the street . . . that Mackinac Island is considering going to . . . one franchise,” said Village President Jeff Hingston during the Mackinaw City Village Council meeting Thursday, August 19. “Rather than not knowing what's going on, I would like Council to direct our manager to contact the City of Mackinac Island to ask them if there is any validity to this and what direction they're going, so we can start thinking about how that might effect our three boat lines on this side.”

Dick Moehl, president of Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, came before the Mackinaw City Planning Commission Thursday, August 26, and said he is also concerned by the idea . If the Island does limit itself to a single line, he said, it could result in a monopoly that may lead to increased fare rates and reduced quality of service. He was also worried about the potential impact that would have on Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry, w hich originated in Mackinaw City and which has a “handshake agreement” with the lighthouse group to provide lighthouse tours. The tours are a major source of income for the association's lighthouse restoration and preservation efforts.

Mr. Moehl also expressed his views in a letter to the editor of The St. Ignace News this week.

Ferries operate between Mackinac Island and the mainland under a franchise granted by Mackinac Island. Last winter, when a 20-year franchise program expired and the franchises were renewed, the city said it wanted to eliminate its franchises with three ferry boat operators and sign an exclusive agreement with only one company. It offered one-year renewals last winter while it explored its options for exerting more control over the boat lines in the areas of prices, operating efficiency, and late-season service to the Island.

Three lines now serve Mackinac Island from both St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, Arnold Transit, Star Line ferry, and Shepler's Mackinac Island Ferry.