Alger County voters support majority of proposals
MUNISING — Munising voters during Tuesday’s primary election rejected regulations aimed at prohibiting tobacco use at outdoor city-owned or leased property.
The proposal failed by a vote of 133 to 107.
Voter turnout in Alger County was about 16.5 percent, with 1,183 of the 7,180 registered voters casting ballots.
The proposal was the result of an initiatory petition process, coordinated by members of the Alger County Wellness Coalition, which required collection of signatures from at least 10 percent of the registered electors in the city for the question to be placed on the ballot, according to the city’s charter.
The measure was the only proposal in Alger County to be turned down by voters.
Au Train Township voters supported a 2-mill proposal to provide funding for road maintenance and improvements. The millage, which passed with 151 votes for and 67 votes against, will run from 2017 to 2021 and is estimated to generate roughly $138,000 the first year levied.
With a vote of 175 for and 45 against, the Au Train Township electorate also supported a proposal of 3 mills for curbside garbage collection and support services, including ongoing costs related to the closure of the Munising Landfill. That millage will also run from 2017 to 2021, and it is expected to generate about $206,900 its first year levied.
In Burt Township, a millage for construction, operation, maintenance and improvement of the township’s fire department passed with nearly 80 percent of the 138 ballots cast. The 1.5-mill levy had been reduced by required rollbacks to 1.4945 and was restored Tuesday to its original level.
The levy, set to run from 2017 through 2020, is estimated to generate nearly $76,000 its first year.
Voters there also approved a 1.5-mill levy for road maintenance and improvements, expected to generate $76,000 its first year. The measure passed with 98 votes for and 40 votes against.
Burt Township voters also supported restoring the township’s operating millage to its original level of 1 mill. It had been reduced through required rollbacks to .5741 mill, but the restoration was approved with about 68 percent of the vote.
The levy will run from 2017 through 2020 and is estimated to generate about $50,600 the first year.
All results are considered unofficial until certified by the county’s board of canvassers.
Ryan Jarvi can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 270. His email address is rjarvi@miningjournal.net.