Northern Mich~Mash Preserve
~ PUBLIC TRANSIT ~
~ PUBLICLY SPEAKING ~
The design and compilation of the text and photos on this site are copyrighted 2017.
Most posted items will enlarge by "clicking" on them.
"Clicking" on some color highlighted words may access additional information.
Most posted items will enlarge by "clicking" on them.
"Clicking" on some color highlighted words may access additional information.
Please do not copy the photos on this site, many of which have been submitted by private individuals...
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
just come back and visit the site often to view the photos.
Photo Labels Include:
ECBOC = Emmet County Board of Commissioners (Minutes~Legal Documents)
ECBOC Ad-Min = Emmet County Board of Commissioners Administrative (Minutes~Legal Documents)
ECBOC = Emmet County Board of Commissioners (Minutes~Legal Documents)
ECBOC Ad-Min = Emmet County Board of Commissioners Administrative (Minutes~Legal Documents)
The E-Mail below was sent to all of the 2018 Emmet County Board of Commissioners, and one of the commissioners forwarded the e-mail on to the new administrator, plus the interim administrator.
The web pages on the above e-mail are no longer clickable... sorry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"BUYING ELECTION VOTES"
The letter below was read during Public Comment at the 19 July 2018 Emmet County Board of Commissioners meeting, but it was NOT allowed to be placed into the minutes as requested, so consequently is being posted here... PUBLICLY SPEAKING. The letter references actions by commissioners at the previous 9 July 2018 Committee of the Whole ECBOC meeting, just prior to the 7 August 2018 Primary Election in which ALL of the commissioners were placed on the ballot.
In Retrospect after the 7 August 2018 Primary Election:
Regarding the 7 August 2018 Primary Election, the electorate of District 5 must be complimented on their acumen of the situation of the "District 5 commissioner" trying to buy votes by PROMOTING and PUSHING through a 5-2 vote for "Public Transit." The resolution to move forward with Public Transit, with the closely followed vote was promoted during a COW meeting generally scheduled to discuss issues, NOT to vote on the issues. Evidently, as determined by the election results the commissioner did not "buy" enough votes to be reelected. The end result, however, is troubling for the taxpayers of Emmet County in that they have been saddled with an unfunded Public Transit program with no presented business plan.
In Retrospect after the 7 August 2018 Primary Election:
Regarding the 7 August 2018 Primary Election, the electorate of District 5 must be complimented on their acumen of the situation of the "District 5 commissioner" trying to buy votes by PROMOTING and PUSHING through a 5-2 vote for "Public Transit." The resolution to move forward with Public Transit, with the closely followed vote was promoted during a COW meeting generally scheduled to discuss issues, NOT to vote on the issues. Evidently, as determined by the election results the commissioner did not "buy" enough votes to be reelected. The end result, however, is troubling for the taxpayers of Emmet County in that they have been saddled with an unfunded Public Transit program with no presented business plan.
TWO ELECTION CYCLES later (2022) for the ECBOCommissioners, and the taxpayers still will be feeling the pocketbook squeeze. In 2020, commissioners still were gaining their commissioner seats by promoting themselves as "transit YES votes." A transit authority was brewing and promoted for the two years following the 2020 election... A big push with a special scheduled transit meeting was announced for May 2022. THEN, the special scheduled transit meeting suddenly was postponed. WHY? Consider that a November 2022 Election is fast approaching and "running commissioner candidates" would not want to have the stigma of the 2018 commissioners who "SOLD THEIR VOTE for transit" by being approving during a public transit meeting, and enticing votes for their re-election from those PRO-Transit voters who might attend the special scheduled transit meeting; no visual acknowledgement of a vote for certain commissioners is a vote for a transit authority. So, after the election, the transit authority push will be moving forward AGAIN.
Photo Below taken in the mid-morning hour: EMMET COUNTY TAX DOLLARS at rest... The only thing good about these THREE EMGO Emmet County Transit buses just sitting, not transporting, is that idleness is saving fuel, plus wear-and-tear expenses, for each bus.
THREE Photos Below were taken mid-morning on 4 March 2019, upon seeing the same site on many previous days, with THREE Emmet County Public Transit buses sitting in Petoskey's Walmart parking lot... one driver was standing outside talking to another driver, and two drivers were sitting behind the wheels of the stopped buses... with no passengers. This time I made it obvious that I was taking these photos. Photo #2: So, by the time that I drove behind the empty buses, two of the drivers knew they should be on the move. Shortly, it was seen that the two buses truly had moved, and parked, in the Lowe's parking lot, close to the Walmart parking lot. Photo #3: By an hour later in driving by the Walmart parking lot again, two empty Emgo buses were back in their favorite location.
At night the buses are parked at the Emmet County fairgrounds. So the county parks and recreation budget is used to pay for snow removal for the Transit System.
As the months have progressed, the buses have found various places to PARK... like in the parking lot for the Bear Creek Township Hall on Division Road, Petoskey, Michigan.
At night the buses are parked at the Emmet County fairgrounds. So the county parks and recreation budget is used to pay for snow removal for the Transit System.
As the months have progressed, the buses have found various places to PARK... like in the parking lot for the Bear Creek Township Hall on Division Road, Petoskey, Michigan.
When the county EMGO transit system was voted in 2018, no plan was in place, nor any funding. So, the county's administrator, with no staff for transit, had to juggle the budget, taking about $240,000.00 from other departments for year 2019. The county, already in "dire straits" because of budgetary restraints from previous board decisions with a 2014 non voted $15 million dollar bond for the Headlands, EMS, and various other sundries, also received state and federal money for the transit system. By the time all funding went into EMGO; about a half million taxpayer dollars, are supporting EMGO for ONE year in 2019.
The original commissioners' goal was for the original Emmet County Straits Regional Ride ridership number of 6000 per year, to increase with the THREE additional routes, by another 12,000 by the end of 2019, equaling a total of 18,000 riders. With the ridership number of about 200 to 617 for each of the first three months of 2019, it seems almost impossible to reach the 18,000 goal by the end of 2019. Vouchers purchased by United Way may help the ridership numbers cause; and also North Central Michigan College purchasing $2,000.00 of vouchers may help the ridership number cause. Taxpayers NCMC voted millage money for education, should not be paying for transit, however, when county tax dollars are already supporting NCMC... double-dipping of local tax dollars is not acceptable. Bear Creek Township taxpayers voted a supporting millage for the Petoskey District Library. By April 2019 the library was giving away EMGO vouchers for those wishing a ride to, or from, the library... another instance of taxpayers in Bear Creek township paying TWICE for the same service.
The original commissioners' goal was for the original Emmet County Straits Regional Ride ridership number of 6000 per year, to increase with the THREE additional routes, by another 12,000 by the end of 2019, equaling a total of 18,000 riders. With the ridership number of about 200 to 617 for each of the first three months of 2019, it seems almost impossible to reach the 18,000 goal by the end of 2019. Vouchers purchased by United Way may help the ridership numbers cause; and also North Central Michigan College purchasing $2,000.00 of vouchers may help the ridership number cause. Taxpayers NCMC voted millage money for education, should not be paying for transit, however, when county tax dollars are already supporting NCMC... double-dipping of local tax dollars is not acceptable. Bear Creek Township taxpayers voted a supporting millage for the Petoskey District Library. By April 2019 the library was giving away EMGO vouchers for those wishing a ride to, or from, the library... another instance of taxpayers in Bear Creek township paying TWICE for the same service.
Below: This was the chosen OPTION by the Emmet County Board of Commissioners. It does state that 12,000 ADDITIONAL rides should be provided in addition to the about 6,000 rides/year that SRR has continued to provide at an additional $13,000.00 of Emmet County taxpayer expense, like in previous years. The total ridership from January through May 2019 has been only 4,213... not even the 6,000 rides/year in the original agreement.
~ Main Traveled Routes for EMGO Buses in 2019 in Emmet County ~
Taxpayers from the entire county pay for public transit bus service,
but the route coverage is extremely limited for many in the county.
Main traveled routes are shown in yellow on the map.
Taxpayers from the entire county pay for public transit bus service,
but the route coverage is extremely limited for many in the county.
Main traveled routes are shown in yellow on the map.
PHOTO BELOW: When I drove both directions past this bus… no driver was behind the wheel; the side door was wide open toward the water as seen in the photo below. Only one person was in the bus and that person was sitting about 3 or 4 seats behind the empty driver’s seat. Hmmmm… what a job! And, how lucky I feel to be the taxpaying employer of such.... yes, that is sarcasm!
The rider numbers are being manipulated. In the past the Emmet County Friendship Center bus transported seniors, disabled, AND general riders. According to FEET 9 December 2019 minutes, with EMGO in service, ECFC is only servicing seniors and disabled. ECFC now have about 16,000 riders annually. This count is down about 4,000 (not all due to EMGO, but possibly some). EMGO numbers become enhanced by EMGO's promotion of special Fall Color tour groups, as well. No concern is paid for the supposed original NEED for public transit, just get on that bus and RIDE... numbers are so important.
Two Pages Below: 19 March 2020 ~ Acting Administrator Mike Reave's report
to the Emmet County Board of Commissioners after a meeting with Cheboygan Transit...
to the Emmet County Board of Commissioners after a meeting with Cheboygan Transit...
Administrator's Report Below:
COVID–19 has taken its toll on EMGO ridership for the month of April 2020,
even with no charging per ride.
COVID–19 has taken its toll on EMGO ridership for the month of April 2020,
even with no charging per ride.
The 13 May 2020 Petoskey News Review reported "Emmet County to Suspend EMGO Routes Temporarily"... for at least 30 days (from May 15 to June 15). COVID–19 is noted as one of several factors in that decision. Cheboygan County heads the public transit for Emmet County, and Cheboygan had already indicated it is heading for a "likely scale-back." Cheboygan County had noted in its 14 April 2020 Finance meeting's Administrator Jeff Lawson's update that Straits Regional Ride did receive six (6) new buses.
On 8 June 2020 four of the seven Emmet County commissioners voted to reopen the EMGO bus service after a temporary month-long halt due to COVID–19 effects. The county commissioners, however, have had no specified funding for this bus service, even from the inception of the county transit; Just this one Emmet county bus service already costs annually over a half million dollars in Federal, State, and Emmet County taxes. Being an election year, explains why four of the commissioners continue to vote to support an unfunded non-mandated service. The taxpayers will have to cover their personal agenda votes, and pay in the end. Administrator Reaves is seeking extra monetary support from Petoskey and Harbor Springs governments... because MOST of the rides are in those areas. That was the misdirected precept from the beginning that the entire county would give tax support for a bus service mainly for the two localities... forget the needs of the rest of the county.
The 11 May 2020 Emmet County Board of Commissioners meeting minutes below reveal that COVID–19 affected the ridership for EMGO and SRR in Emmet County. It is interesting that although taxes pay for the Emmet County Public Transit, the SRR Director will be seeking more governmental money (taxpayer dollars; not FREE) through the CARES Act.
The 21 May 2020 ECBOC meeting revealed some of the
discussion that transpired regarding the public transit.
discussion that transpired regarding the public transit.
Photo Below:
18 June 2020 ~ In Petoskey, Hobby Lobby's Empty Parking Lot, other than an EMGO bus at 10AM...
18 June 2020 ~ In Petoskey, Hobby Lobby's Empty Parking Lot, other than an EMGO bus at 10AM...
Three Photos Below: Oh good... an SRR bus in the Home Depot parking lot. Oh wait, no passengers NOR a driver inside the bus. Ahhhhh... the driver is just visiting with friends a few parking spaces away.
Article Below: FINALLY, four of the seven Emmet County Board of Commissioners voted to put an end on 31 December 2020 to the wasteful spending of over a half million dollars per year of taxpayer dollars for Emmet County's public transit EMGO. This sum does not include the county staff hours that were spent on transit oversight. A pro-taxpayer funded transit system will continue by private people to be promoted with a push for a transit authority; ignoring that authorities are still funded by PUBLIC money!
Article Below: After EMGO was shut down, the commissioners offered a sum of money to the Friendship Centers of Emmet County if they wished to continue ridership within their own system. Friendship Centers expressed they have a certain segment they are to legally address with transportation, and that is their main function; so the Friendship Centers turned down the extra financing.
The 4 August 2021 Petoskey News Review reported: “City hesitates to support transit proposal.” The city council had received a presentation on the proposed Emmet Transit Authority. “The plan would involve establishing a separate entity, under the approval of county commissioners, to formulate a public transportation plan and millage to replace the former EMGO bus service program.” Because any tax proposal drafted by a transit authority would require approval by the Emmet County Board of Commissioners, the city council was being asked to draft a letter of support from the city to the commissioners. No decision by the city council was made about drafting the letter.
The ECBOC in #4 above were to address their
"investigative efforts and information regarding Transit in Emmet County."
The following e-mail was addressed to each ECBOC and Administrator Mike Reaves and his assistant Dave Boyer.
"investigative efforts and information regarding Transit in Emmet County."
The following e-mail was addressed to each ECBOC and Administrator Mike Reaves and his assistant Dave Boyer.
09/10/2021
Commissioners, Mr. Reaves, and Mr. Boyer,
I hope you will add my comments/concerns to your individual findings regarding public transit with the imminent possibility of a “transit authority” leading to transit/authority millage request… all which must be approved by you commissioners. So, that is the big question on taxpayers’ minds. Why would you commissioners subject taxpayers to a future millage ballot for a NON-MANDATED service, adding another layer of government?
Mr. Reaves recommended at the 24 June 2021 ECBOC meeting which included the Strategic Planning Session on Public Transit/Transportation “not to reference SRR/EMGO ridership in the presentation because that information was in question.” Yes, agreed, it certainly was in question. Please access my own web page which presents records/documents/articles/photos regarding local public transit, including EMGO, if you want to get more of the actual story as it unfolded.
Public Transit
So, in regards to your “investigative efforts and information regarding Transit in Emmet County” regarding a necessity for county public transit… How many PEOPLE did you talk to who actually cannot find a mode of transit for their travel needs at this time?
Or, did you talk more with MEMBERS of GROUPS who are promoting public transit for perhaps some self-serving goals of their own such as:
1) job seekers perhaps hoping for a transit job with government benefits for themselves in the future,
2) businesses subsidizing their profits through public transit while the businesses do not pay employees a livable wage so employees could provide their own transit, housing and/or childcare,
3) the chamber, rightfully considering the community’s sparse workforce…thinking the workforce will enlarge with public transit… not considering that the pandemic health reasons have squelched the workforce, along with extra unemployment benefits during the pandemic so workforce doesn’t need to work, not to mention that for years previous, wages have been paid at the minimum in many businesses,
4) Petoskey and Harbor Springs business centers will benefit more than the outlying areas of the county, but the cities do not commit to contribute in any way, but rather expects funds be used from the entire county taxpayers,
5) transit authority promoters envision, besides a millage rate, an authority will receive grants and federal and state tax dollars… forgetting that all of those are tax dollars, not just FREE money,
6) City of Petoskey parking issues, lessening cars downtown, would be addressed with public transit and county taxpayer funding, rather than addressing the fact that of the city’s “over $400,000.00 parking meter revenue annually” for years has not directed into a line item on their budget for a parking structure, or to meet the city’s own parking issue. The city is also trying to coerce the county government into helping to co-fund a parking structure across from the county’s Lake Street facility… that still would be taxpayer funding.
After you consider the above as to just who, what groups, are advocating the county commissioners to decide to impose a transit authority on the taxpayers, please consider again, just how many people did you talk with who actually need transportation, and if they use any of the multiple sources for public transit that is presently available such as those listed below, some private and some taxpayer funded, but available transportation none the less.
People just have to be willing to plan ahead and schedule.
Friendship Center
Odawa bus
Straits Regional Ride which services all of Emmet County
SRR connections even can be made with Charlevoix’s transit.
Perry Farms
American House Assisted Living
Independence Village
Mallard Cove medical transportation arrangements
Private Taxi Services
Shuttles
Little Traverse Bay Ferry Co.
Company vehicles
Little Traverse Tours and Taxi
Griffin Transit Mackinaw Shuttle
Petoskey Shuttle & Taxi
Great Lakes Air
Fresh Air Aviation Inc.
Bay Bluffs transportation to appointments outside the facility
Sunset Premier Shuttle Service
Northern Michigan Trolley
Char-Em buses
School buses
Indian Trails
Businesses that provide their own employee busing
Some churches
Public transportation is not void in the county… Some of the above sources already are listed on Emmet County’s own website:
Transportation - Emmet County
Commissioners… Please do not vote for any movement toward a public transit authority.
Thank you.
Karla Buckmaster
Commissioners, Mr. Reaves, and Mr. Boyer,
I hope you will add my comments/concerns to your individual findings regarding public transit with the imminent possibility of a “transit authority” leading to transit/authority millage request… all which must be approved by you commissioners. So, that is the big question on taxpayers’ minds. Why would you commissioners subject taxpayers to a future millage ballot for a NON-MANDATED service, adding another layer of government?
Mr. Reaves recommended at the 24 June 2021 ECBOC meeting which included the Strategic Planning Session on Public Transit/Transportation “not to reference SRR/EMGO ridership in the presentation because that information was in question.” Yes, agreed, it certainly was in question. Please access my own web page which presents records/documents/articles/photos regarding local public transit, including EMGO, if you want to get more of the actual story as it unfolded.
Public Transit
So, in regards to your “investigative efforts and information regarding Transit in Emmet County” regarding a necessity for county public transit… How many PEOPLE did you talk to who actually cannot find a mode of transit for their travel needs at this time?
Or, did you talk more with MEMBERS of GROUPS who are promoting public transit for perhaps some self-serving goals of their own such as:
1) job seekers perhaps hoping for a transit job with government benefits for themselves in the future,
2) businesses subsidizing their profits through public transit while the businesses do not pay employees a livable wage so employees could provide their own transit, housing and/or childcare,
3) the chamber, rightfully considering the community’s sparse workforce…thinking the workforce will enlarge with public transit… not considering that the pandemic health reasons have squelched the workforce, along with extra unemployment benefits during the pandemic so workforce doesn’t need to work, not to mention that for years previous, wages have been paid at the minimum in many businesses,
4) Petoskey and Harbor Springs business centers will benefit more than the outlying areas of the county, but the cities do not commit to contribute in any way, but rather expects funds be used from the entire county taxpayers,
5) transit authority promoters envision, besides a millage rate, an authority will receive grants and federal and state tax dollars… forgetting that all of those are tax dollars, not just FREE money,
6) City of Petoskey parking issues, lessening cars downtown, would be addressed with public transit and county taxpayer funding, rather than addressing the fact that of the city’s “over $400,000.00 parking meter revenue annually” for years has not directed into a line item on their budget for a parking structure, or to meet the city’s own parking issue. The city is also trying to coerce the county government into helping to co-fund a parking structure across from the county’s Lake Street facility… that still would be taxpayer funding.
After you consider the above as to just who, what groups, are advocating the county commissioners to decide to impose a transit authority on the taxpayers, please consider again, just how many people did you talk with who actually need transportation, and if they use any of the multiple sources for public transit that is presently available such as those listed below, some private and some taxpayer funded, but available transportation none the less.
People just have to be willing to plan ahead and schedule.
Friendship Center
Odawa bus
Straits Regional Ride which services all of Emmet County
SRR connections even can be made with Charlevoix’s transit.
Perry Farms
American House Assisted Living
Independence Village
Mallard Cove medical transportation arrangements
Private Taxi Services
Shuttles
Little Traverse Bay Ferry Co.
Company vehicles
Little Traverse Tours and Taxi
Griffin Transit Mackinaw Shuttle
Petoskey Shuttle & Taxi
Great Lakes Air
Fresh Air Aviation Inc.
Bay Bluffs transportation to appointments outside the facility
Sunset Premier Shuttle Service
Northern Michigan Trolley
Char-Em buses
School buses
Indian Trails
Businesses that provide their own employee busing
Some churches
Public transportation is not void in the county… Some of the above sources already are listed on Emmet County’s own website:
Transportation - Emmet County
Commissioners… Please do not vote for any movement toward a public transit authority.
Thank you.
Karla Buckmaster
A 26 January 2022 Petoskey News Review article gave a forewarning to the county, state, and federal taxpayers... "Issues on the Menu: Public Transit, Broadband in Infrastructure Bill Allocations." Issues that Emmet County communities have been clamoring about like public transportation, water contamination, broadband internet access and deteriorating roads and bike paths, may likely find funding this year through the "Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act" which will give access to BILLIONS of dollars for the state of Michigan to spread around the counties, through the Michigan Department of Transportation, the departments rural task force, and local metropolitan planning organizations. The money can go toward local governments, as well as local tribal government. Emmet County has had a failed transit program, which could be reinstitute with use of this new funding... with an authority. When this initial funding, if used for transit is gone, then the taxpayers will be coerced into more taxes to continue the expected service.
Below is exactly what I wrote, and read at the 10 October 2022 Emmet County Board of Commissioners meeting during public comment:
"That special transit meeting was… a sham… a setup. Public input was not needed, or heeded, because a pre-written motion was immediately presented and approved… a motion that had been written at one in the afternoon with the approval of the chairman and the administrator, the assistant administrator, and the knowledge of Director of Operations/Grant Management. Commissioner Koontz, who added an amendment, was aware of the motion before the meeting, and possibly other commissioners were as well. No real discussion followed the motion. Two commissioners wanted future discussion, and voted such, but the motion still passed.
One commissioner thumbed through a book during public comment. I don’t care if it was a book about creating the best public transit in the world. He was disrespectful to the over 40 speaking public members, both pro and con transit. He was not listening. He had his own agenda.
Neither the agenda, nor the power point indicated a motion was to be made at that meeting. Rather, it stated, “Opportunities for the BOC to Consider.” No consideration happened. Not all, but most commissioners sat during the entire meeting, never saying a word… no discussion, except to approve the pre-written motion. A motion that consumes almost a half million ARPA dollars over 5 years. Placing the administrator, asst. administrator, and Juneau as overseers. That’s costly, also, when they won’t be able to do their other county work.
Those same three people… reiterated OLD misrepresented transit information already fed to the trusting public as if truth, but that data was from a FLAWED survey for spending ARPA funds… data presented on the county’s web site… a web site which is embarrassing, with its lack of updating in all areas. Old transit studies and manipulated ridership figures from EMGO were spewed through an agenda Power Point filled with… the OLD county logo, further pointing out they totally lack accurate historical knowledge of the county. Leaders into the future do historical research, and learn, learn from mistakes of the past… don’t just repeat the past with past inaccuracies.
Most of you just want the public’s money to get a nagging issue off your table… not listening for real input. That meeting was a sham, a perverse trick on the public." ~ Karla Buckmaster
"That special transit meeting was… a sham… a setup. Public input was not needed, or heeded, because a pre-written motion was immediately presented and approved… a motion that had been written at one in the afternoon with the approval of the chairman and the administrator, the assistant administrator, and the knowledge of Director of Operations/Grant Management. Commissioner Koontz, who added an amendment, was aware of the motion before the meeting, and possibly other commissioners were as well. No real discussion followed the motion. Two commissioners wanted future discussion, and voted such, but the motion still passed.
One commissioner thumbed through a book during public comment. I don’t care if it was a book about creating the best public transit in the world. He was disrespectful to the over 40 speaking public members, both pro and con transit. He was not listening. He had his own agenda.
Neither the agenda, nor the power point indicated a motion was to be made at that meeting. Rather, it stated, “Opportunities for the BOC to Consider.” No consideration happened. Not all, but most commissioners sat during the entire meeting, never saying a word… no discussion, except to approve the pre-written motion. A motion that consumes almost a half million ARPA dollars over 5 years. Placing the administrator, asst. administrator, and Juneau as overseers. That’s costly, also, when they won’t be able to do their other county work.
Those same three people… reiterated OLD misrepresented transit information already fed to the trusting public as if truth, but that data was from a FLAWED survey for spending ARPA funds… data presented on the county’s web site… a web site which is embarrassing, with its lack of updating in all areas. Old transit studies and manipulated ridership figures from EMGO were spewed through an agenda Power Point filled with… the OLD county logo, further pointing out they totally lack accurate historical knowledge of the county. Leaders into the future do historical research, and learn, learn from mistakes of the past… don’t just repeat the past with past inaccuracies.
Most of you just want the public’s money to get a nagging issue off your table… not listening for real input. That meeting was a sham, a perverse trick on the public." ~ Karla Buckmaster
~ Petoskey City Transit ~
1946
1946
~ Smith Taxi Co. ~
426 Bay Street, Petoskey, Michigan
[Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council location in 2019]
426 Bay Street, Petoskey, Michigan
[Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council location in 2019]
Photo Below: Smith Taxi Co. was located on Park Avenue and Bay Street beside the city's park, across from Stafford's Perry Hotel in 2019. At the time of this undated photo the Kroger Grocery Store (Later the IGA) was located next to the parking lot beside the taxi company. In 2019 the Kroger store has been replaced with a multiple story bank, and office, building.
~ Wolverine Stages ~
Obituary Below: Stuart Smith was the son of Harry and Nellie Smith who had the family business of Smith Taxi and Bus. Stuart worked there for 33 years. In 1965, he went out on his own and started Wolverine Stages, a taxi and freight business until his retirement. Mr. and Mrs. Randolph Bricker of Pellston purchased Wolverine State, Inc. from Smith in 1973. The Bricker's seem to have run the mutated transit service into the ...
Bay View's Taxi Driver ~ Clemy Werner
1920s > 1960s
1920s > 1960s
Privately Owned
Northern Michigan Trolley Company
Northern Michigan Trolley Company
Fiscal Year 2018-2019 (Emmet County) The Friendship Centers Council on Aging gave 16,602 rides.
(rides given to 418 older adults and disabled)