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Residents press commission on housing, tenant safety and brownfield participation during public comment
Summary
Public commenters urged action on housing shortages and tenant safety, an applicant asked to join the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, and a former mayor announced a county commission bid; a tenant alleged months of flooding, code violations and an eviction threat from her landlord.
Several members of the public used the June 29 City Commission meeting to raise housing and redevelopment concerns and to announce civic participation plans.
Bailey Quinn, a renter at 1402 Altimont Street, described ongoing flooding and alleged building- and safety-code problems at a rental property she says is owned by Shramm Superior Properties. Quinn told commissioners she had reported problems to city and county staff and said the landlord offered to let her remain only if she signed away the right to speak publicly. Quinn alleged unsafe conditions including a hot-water heater "plugged into a dangling safety strip," water-damaged drywall and a bedroom built over a drain, and said a replaced decorative propane fireplace lacked the permits the owner should have obtained. Quinn asked the city to take action and said eviction was being used as a threat rather than repairs.
In related public comments, resident Steve Nestrom said he has applied for a seat on the Marquette Brownfield Redevelopment Authority and stressed a desire to help address housing through that body. Nestrom cited his military and intelligence background and said he wants to be "part of the solution, not just the person who sits back and complains." Jenna Smith, a former mayor of Marquette, used her time to announce a campaign for Marquette County Commission District 3 and emphasized housing, infrastructure, broadband and economic development among her priorities.
Resident and volunteer Margaret Braum praised retiring utilities director Mark O'Neal earlier in the meeting and later urged the commission to expand cigarette-butt recycling across the county. Braum proposed an ordinance requiring businesses with many parking spots to provide collection receptacles and said she would seek donations to scale the program and ship collected butts to a recycler.
Commissioners did not take immediate enforcement action on the tenant's complaint during the public-comment period; Bailey Quinn said she had contacted inspectors and the state toxicologist and described limits on local inspection capacity. The commission later continued with scheduled presentations and votes. Residents who raised appointments, candidacy and policy suggestions were directed to staff or given information on how to follow up.
