Hamlin Township Citizens (and Board) Call-Block Dial-A-Ride

[XLFD]

Hamlin Board Votes to Deny Putting Dial-a-ride-for Hamlin-Issue on this Year's Ballot

At a contentious, but mostly civil town hall meeting tonight, the Hamlin Board considered the issue of raising the existing millage from 0.73 to 1.00 mils (nearly a 40% increase) to facilitate dial-a-ride service covering the township.  Fully seventeen people rose up and went to the microphone (not counting an intro by the new Mason County Road Commissioner), and three more had their views read into the record by Township Supervisor Nancy Vandervest. 

Of the twenty opinions expressed, only eight of those expressed support of the plan or at least to put it up for a vote.  One of these was by the Co-chair of Hamlin Rides, Barry Matthews, and another was by Ludington City Councilor Kaye Holman.  Holman is well versed in inefficiently spending other people's money at her other job, so it was not surprising to see her cross boundary lines to advocate for this project being 'well worth it'.

The other twelve were against the plan, if not actively against putting it on the ballot.  Notable among these were recurring outspoken citizen, Greg Collins putting forth numbers, a personable rendition of problems by Bill Smith, a history lesson of the issue by Bob McLain, a worker's paradox put forth by Pat Soper, and an entertaining comprehensive letter by David Hankwitz, which had the Supervisor Vandervest actually refer to Nurnberg Road as Nuremburg Road. 

Historically, in Nov. 2006, a plan for county-wide service was voted down in Hamlin, with 807 yes to 851 no.  A second vote, concerning just Hamlin Township was added to the ballot in August of 2008 and was defeated by a twelve percent margin, 305 yes to 395 no.  Although proponents mentioned changing demographics and needs, it was hard to get past the inalterable facts that there has been an economic downturn, decreased household income, and more demands from all levels of government for even more of that since those times.   A well-informed electorate would likely make that twelve percent margin look smaller now.

Hamlin Rides avoidance of numbers, projections, and dissenting opinions at previous forums helped in their own way to create the final vote by the Hamlin Board, who instead of voting for putting the issue on the ballot, instead decided to vote on NOT putting the issue on the ballot, much to the chagrin of Hamlin Rides' Barry Matthews, whom this reporter sat next to.  All five board members to one extent or another used references to being not fully informed to vote yea in their brief statements before the vote, and many noted the points brought out by the opponents as being fairly made. 

In other business, the Hamlin Board spoke of the upcoming master plan workshop being held by LIAA for master plans of Mason County, Hamlin, PM, and the City of Ludington on February 19, 2014, along with other normal discussions on budgets, reports and purchase.

[XLFD]

Barry Matthews of Hamlin Rides declares the movement is not dead, but may be if he doesn't keep the garage doors open a little more.  Witness his letter to the editor of the MCP that seems to have been written after too many fumes were inhaled:  "Hammie has visited the auto body shop and has been repaired, good as new, from his recent collision with the wall of opposition. Fortunately, Hammie has many friends who offered transportation while he was incapacitated. Too bad he couldn’t ride the bus."

http://www.masoncountypress.com/2014/06/01/hamlin-transportation-co...

If you visit their website you will find their next upcoming meeting happens on May 13, 2014.   Oh wait, that was three weeks ago (http://www.hamlinrides.org/upcoming-meetings.html).  I guess they are alive.  Barry, crank the numbers, display them honestly, and give us a reason as to why it would be a good idea to send dial-a-ride buses out to Hamlin.  I can only see it costing Hamlin and the rest of us a bit more money for a service that would benefit few.  Maybe we should identify those 'Hammies' that need it, and pair them with some of the many 'Hammies' that don't want it in order to have them transport those without into town and around for a nice price. 

[Willy]

From what I can gather, there are several cab companies that service the Ludington area and the residents of Hamlin, so folks can avail themselves of their services if they need transportation. Why do the Hammies want to compete against their neighbor's taxi businesses such as Ludington taxi service that operates 24 hrs a day. We should not have to foot the bill and pay for someone else's transportation needs especially people who purposely live outside of town and put themselves in a position of being isolated.

[AQUAMAN]

Great points guys. This is another given of progressives making the entire subject more emotional than simply rational and economical. Most elderly are sufficient enough out in Hamlin to easily afford selling their old car and taking the $6 taxi if need be. Barry Matthews simply wants more tax dollars in his agency to spend at his whim, probably to increase his own salary or bonuses. Voters said NO TWICE, is anyone listening, hello? Or is it the old strategy of pounding the same old drum over and over to achieve the result of voter apathy and voters just giving up finally? So when's the next session/meeting, June 13th, Friday night when everyone is out doing something with family/friends?

[AQUAMAN]

I guess that question goes to Shyster Shay, or Heather Tykoski, the grant experts. But, I doubt they would have any interest in something that isn't tourist oriented, not for the locals. A visit to Hamlin Twnshp. today revealed that this issue could only go on the November ballot if passed by the township this past March. Since it was already voted down in February or March, it can't be on the November ballot, per the township Clerk. Thus this issue should not in any legal way come to vote in November. But, does Matthews have a way around the policy, procedures, and laws of Hamlin township? Some sneaky/illegal/unethical way? Time will tell. What happened to those double-decker buses we had long ago for trips to Hamlin and the State Park? Couldn't they be resurrected and put into service within the budget now? 

[XLFD]

Buses do go up to Hamlin and most every nook and cranny of the county early in the morning and in the middle of the afternoon every school day.  A school bus driver can tote 60 kids to their homes (or very close) and do it for under a couple of hours.  Cost of driver labor and gas per kid is around a dollar. 

A Dial-a-ride coming from First Street in Ludington out to some of the remote areas of Hamlin to pick up one person and drop them back at Meijer's then take them back later on may take more costs than a single delivery of 60 school kids throughout Hamlin.   

Such an inefficient system should not be publicly funded without a darn good reason for doing so.  If the need is great for such a service, the private sector will fill it, and yet, the Hammies who say they need this service seem to still be alive, along with the Hamlin Rides movement.  Either that, or they're moving into town.

[Willy]

There are just not enough people who would use a "bus" and a bus stops to warrant such action. That's why LMTA uses mini buses. In larger cities the bus service can rely on a steady amount of people to use the services because many city dwellers do not own vehicles or they have to travel to far to make using a vehicle affordable. I have family members in larger cities who save a lot of money by taking a bus. Some of them don't even have cars. Some cities even bus kids to school on mass transit buses and save money by not providing school buses.

[dowland]

If you add up the daily rags coverage prior to the vote it literally comes up to two whole pages, but after the unanimous no vote on the Hamlin board, it didn't make the paper, but it did make the website.  Why should I be surprised?  Socialist, Barry will want us to pay more taxes so his lawn can be mowed next.  Mark my word he will use the opportunity for Hamlin school's day care project to try to push his agenda again.