Residents urge using $5M county reserve for community supports, not facilities
Summary
Multiple public commenters at the April 21 meeting urged Marquette County to allocate more of a $5,000,000 reserve toward community supports—housing, transit, harm reduction and food security—and some speakers criticized board professionalism and appointment practices.
Several residents used the board’s public‑comment time on April 21 to press Marquette County commissioners to redirect a larger share of a $5,000,000 reserve into community support services rather than county facility renovations.
Donovan Young of Ishpeming, speaking with People Action Fund, asked the commission to go further than a recent resolution and formally pledge the county will not participate in 287(g) agreements with ICE. Young also urged the county to treat the reserve as discretionary funds that could better support local nonprofits and public-service initiatives. "We hope that you will open your hearts and your ears to hear the pleas of these people and commit to viable action," he said.
Zeke McClure told commissioners that, to his recollection, “less than $100,000” of the $5,000,000 reserve is currently dedicated to public transit and urged a higher allocation toward homelessness, food security and transit. Remote commenter Desiree asked the board to invest in harm‑reduction, recovery and transit programs to reduce reliance on jails and better serve people with mental‑health and substance‑use needs.
Separately, several commenters and one caller (John Gamera) criticized the board’s public‑meeting management and alleged inconsistent enforcement of speaker timing, favoritism in addressing speakers, and instances of inappropriate disclosure in prior meetings. Board members responded during commissioners’ comments by acknowledging the concerns and discussing possible vetting or appointment‑policy updates.
The comments do not represent a change in board policy; they were taken under advisement, and members said staff would consider follow up.
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