Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ferry Service Neebish Island topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Residents urge restoration of Neebish Island ferry runs; Chippewa County passes resolution seeking state funding
Summary
Neebish Island residents told the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners that reduced ferry service is harming health, safety, property values and access to services. The board voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution 2024-33 asking state lawmakers to pursue funding for YUPTA operations.
Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. — Neebish Island residents pressed the Chippewa County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 19, 2024, to restore previously reduced ferry runs, arguing the cuts harm health, safety, economic activity and long-term viability of the island. After public comment the board voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2024-33 asking state lawmakers to pursue funding earmarks for YUPTA.
The islanders’ appeals came during the meeting’s public-comment period and were led by Phyllis Reed, identified as president of the Neebish Island Improvement Association. “When you cut back the ferry schedule, you are cutting back the opportunity of an island to live for our grandchildren to come and for our property values, everything, and health, safety, all those things,” Reed said. She told commissioners the island group has been working on the issue for more than two years and has drawn “well over a 100 people” to past meetings on the ferry schedule.
Why it matters: residents said limited ferry runs affect access to medical care, emergency response and businesses that rely on ferry-dependent traffic. One island resident (name not specified in the record) described a November power outage and said a separate agreement with the power provider has restricted repairs after hours, leaving residents unable to get heating or run medical equipment when power is lost. “I don’t believe that it’s okay to stop the power company from fixing a power failure,” the resident said.
The board moved quickly from public comment to action. Commissioners recorded a roll-call vote on Resolution 2024-33; Commissioner Nepper, Commissioner Lorenz, Commissioner Savoy, Commissioner Trainor and Chairman Martin all voted yes and the resolution passed 5-0. The resolution, as recorded in the county packet, expresses support for county efforts and requests that state legislators and Senator Demuth pursue funding earmarks for YUPTA.
Other island advocates called in or joined by Zoom. Matt Keller, introduced as president of the Neebish Pioneer Association, said many association members are seasonal and attend remotely; he voiced support for restoring the runs and for the county resolution. Keller offered assistance to county leaders and lawmakers in Lansing to secure operational funding.
Board members and meeting materials show the county also received a letter of support from the Sioux Township Board; the county administrator listed that correspondence during the administrator’s report.
The board did not specify dollar amounts in the resolution; the vote sends the measure to state officials for consideration. Commissioners said the next step is to forward the resolution to state legislators so they can seek funding at the state level.
