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Chairman directs Ironton Ferry stay closed until fuel-line repair and vendor evaluation
Summary
The Charlevoix County Transportation Authority voted unanimously to delay the Ironton Ferry opening until the fuel line is repaired and to seek evaluation from AIS; coordinator reported delayed parts and higher fuel prices and recommended Johnson Oil as vendor.
The Charlevoix County Transportation Authority voted April 14 to keep the Ironton Ferry closed until a fuel-line repair is completed and evaluated by an outside vendor. Chairman Scott Hankins moved the directive; Pat Klooster seconded it, and the motion carried on a 3-0 roll call vote.
Transit Coordinator Joe Kroll told the board that filter-separation parts have been ordered but the Road Commission cannot complete maintenance before the planned April 15 opening. He recommended postponing the opening until repairs are finished and said he will contact other vendors, including AIS, to evaluate and possibly perform the work. Klooster and Hankins instructed Kroll to withhold opening the ferry until the fuel line is properly repaired.
Kroll also briefed the authority on current delivered fuel prices, reporting last year’s price at $3.33 per gallon and current delivered prices of Johnson Oil at $5.14, Ellsworth at $4.92, and Blarney Castle at $5.10, each with a $9.00 delivery fee. He said no supplier is offering a lock-in rate this year and recommended continuing purchases from Johnson Oil on a per-delivery basis with no contract.
The authority’s action was procedural: it directs staff to ensure the vessel’s fuel system is safe before opening and to seek competitive evaluation for repairs. The board did not set a new opening date at the meeting.
