Forsyth Township Special Election Fallout

All of the millage questions on the ballot in Marquette County concerned Forsyth Township.

They had to do with police and library services.

Voters renewed a police operations millage, but another police question was defeated.

It would have raised the operating millage by one mill for six years.

The money would have paid for at least one additional officer.

Forsyth Township Police Chief Tim Rector says with 200 square miles of land to cover, it’s not unusual for the department to have one officer on duty who is in one corner of the township when an emergency call comes in from 10 or more miles away.

The department has two part–time and five full–time officers, including Chief Rector.

The millage increase was rejected by 45 votes, and Chief Rector says it may re–appear on the ballot as soon as August.

Two library millage questions went down to defeat in the township.

One would have meant borrowing $1.5 million dollars to build a new library and then repaying the money over 30 years.

The other question would have increased the library’s operating millage.

Donna Adams, the president of the township library board, declined our request for an interview.

We have all U.P. election results from yesterday here.

Posted by: Mike Hoey