“I’m of the mind to not continue pursuing the transit authority.”
Muskegon mayor Ken Johnson says because Roosevelt Park and Norton Shores won’t join, the City Commission is giving up on plans to form a regional transit authority to operate bus service in the county.
“You can’t force the unwilling to participate.”
After 50 years Muskegon County wants to stop running the Muskegon Area Transit System. Muskegon, Muskegon Heights Roosevelt Park and Norton Shores were going to form an authority and take over.
But commissioner Katrina Kochin says without Norton Shores and Roosevelt Park.
"I don’t think us doing it solely with Muskegon Heights is going to be the answer."
The new authority was going to ask voters to approve a property tax millage to pay for better bus service. But commissioner Jay Kilgo says that was before Norton Shores and Roosevelt Park decided not to participate.
“Then the millage would just be on Muskegon, Muskegon Heights?”
“That is my understanding. Yes. Don’t think it is fair.”
County administrator Mark Eisenbarth says they will now make another plan for operating the transit system.
“I thought we had a good plan going forward with it but i think we will come up with a better plan”
