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Ogemaw County board plans township outreach, social-media push ahead of transit millage vote
Summary
Commissioners discussed wording on millage flyers, concerns about public understanding and transit director presence; they described plans for fact sheets, Facebook outreach and representatives at township meetings in July to explain funding implications if the millage fails.
The Ogemaw County Board discussed outreach plans and community concerns about an upcoming transit millage renewal during the June 8 meeting.
Commissioners said several residents questioned the blunt language on flyers that warned service could stop if the millage failed; some asked for clearer explanations about funding sources and impacts. Commissioner Wilty and others said Township meetings and targeted face-to-face outreach would be important because some township residents do not use social media.
Commissioners pressed for a visible community presence from the transit program and asked whether transit director Tony and his staff were actively attending meetings and sharing data. Board members said Tony has prepared fact sheets and attended an MTA meeting; the board asked staff to ensure a representative is at as many township meetings as possible in July and to expand social-media outreach while following legal limits on advocacy by a government agency.
A small local donation was reported during public comment to help pay for advertising by the transit friends group, and county staff said legal counsel advised that funds given to a 501(c)(3) or similar group are no longer public funds and can be used for campaign messaging. Commissioners set a goal of having townships represented in outreach and to schedule broad public information sessions ahead of the August election.
