Charlevoix County Transportation Authority asks county to renew coordinator contract, approves February bills

The Charlevoix County Transportation Authority voted on March 11 to ask the Charlevoix County Board of Commissioners to consider renewing and updating the Transportation Coordinator contract with the Transit Department and to place Transit Director Joe Kroll in charge of the Transportation Coordinator position.

The motion, made by Authority member Scott Hankins and seconded by Authority member Pat Klooster, carried on a 3-0 roll call vote. Members had been presented with seven applications for the Transportation Coordinator position and discussed applicant qualifications; the board agreed the MOU between the Transportation Authority and the Transit Department should be revisited and that any changes will require county-board approval.

The meeting also included routine business. Authority member Michael Cunningham moved (seconded by Pat Klooster) to approve the minutes of the Feb. 11, 2025 meeting. Later, the board approved the February 2025 monthly bills, totaling $12,330.22, on a motion by Pat Klooster seconded by Scott Hankins; that vote was recorded as 3-0.

Fiscal Officer Becki King distributed the authority’s 2024 audit to members. King noted audit findings that included a question related to ownership of the Ironton Ferry, journal-entry matters and an increase in the authority’s fund balance of $113,456. The minutes also record that a person identified as Machin conducted drone flights and that soil samples are still required; those samples are scheduled to be completed by May, according to the minutes.

The meeting was called to order at 9:01 a.m. and adjourned at 9:38 a.m. The next meeting is scheduled for April 8, 2025, at 9:00 a.m. Minutes were submitted by Kim Garver, Chief Deputy Clerk.