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Transit advocates press county to prioritize reserve funds for bus service as KI Sawyer talks proceed
Summary
Advocates from We The People Michigan and Transit Riders Unite asked commissioners to prioritize $5 million in reserve funds for transit improvements, linking public transit to housing, health care and economic stability while warning the KI Sawyer resolution should not displace funding for core services.
During public comment at the June 16 meeting, transit advocates urged the Marquette County Board to allocate reserve funds toward improving MarkTran rather than prioritizing large redevelopment projects. Ruby Miller and Caitlin Jensen, both working with local transit advocacy efforts, said improved bus service connects people to housing, food security and jobs and asked the county to pursue specific funding and policy steps.
Donovan Young (online) asked whether $5,000,000 in American Rescue Plan reserve funds could be used to rehouse KI Sawyer residents rather than toward courthouse projects. Commissioners acknowledged the transit concerns and said they would engage with the transit authority and other partners; staff noted a recent federal award of $750,000 for short-term recuperative housing but did not allocate the ARP reserve at the meeting.
Advocates asked for work sessions, transparent timelines and outreach in the KI Sawyer community to ensure services—not only economic development—remain a prominent part of planning.
