Residents call for enforcement of UPTA advisory committee, say Neebish Island lacks reliable regional connections

At the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners public-comment period, two residents urged the county to press the Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (UPTA) to implement an advisory committee required by the UPTA interlocutory agreement and to improve regional connections to Neebish Island.

Phyllis Street, a full-time resident and president of the Neebish Island Improvement Association, told commissioners that the UPTA "interlocutory agreement...section 4" requires creation of an advisory committee and read part of the agreement into the record. She quoted the agreement saying an advisory committee "will consist of members with technical skills relevant to all phases of public transportation, administration and operation" and said the committee "will have no powers" but is intended to "provide the governing board of directors with technical advice to make recommendations for improvements or expansion of public transportation." Street said that provision has "never been implemented" and described local needs such as better airport access and ferry service to support employment, safety and regional connectivity.

Sarah Karazinsky, who addressed the board virtually, said she has previously raised concerns about UPTA leadership and service to Neebish. Karazinsky summarized a March 17, 2020, county meeting that she said led to removal of a UPTA board member and the appointment of Joseph Hena, and she urged the commission to use its appointment authority when UPTA is not meeting the standards under which it was established. "I am here again to ask you guys for your involvement, to ensure that UPTA is run-in a way that is not only legal, and financially stable, but that they are providing equitable and equal service to all of those members that pay into that," Karazinsky said.

Both speakers suggested specific local partners that could participate on an advisory committee, including the Chippewa County Economic Development Corporation, local hospital representatives, the county road commission, central dispatch, tribal governments, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and harbor safety committees. Street said those partners could help plan regional mobility that would allow residents to travel "from an island to a town to a train to an airport." Karazinsky argued the county, which appoints some UPTA board members, already has a mechanism to intervene when board performance is deficient.

Commissioners did not take formal action during the public-comment period on UPTA governance or on forming an advisory committee. The board moved on to the scheduled agenda after closing public comments.