Porters, One-Horse Hitches May Ease Delivery Concerns

By Ryan Schlehuber

As details of the city’s proposed ordinance on the use of wheeled carts continue to be hammered out, Mackinac Island business owners already know that getting their everyday freight this summer is going to be a hassle.

City administrators and an ad-hoc committee appointed by Mayor Margaret Doud met again Tuesday, April 12, to discuss revising the draft ordinance on horse-drawn vehicles, saddle horses, and wheeled carts. The most hotly debated part of the ordinance has been outlawing from city streets the large luggage carts used by boatlines to load luggage and freight on the boats. While they can still be towed by dray, the city wants to ban the practice of pushing them by hand through the streets, a delivery method enjoyed by residents and businesses.

Another committee meeting will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, April 18, to continue discussions and a public hearing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, before the city council regular meeting, which begins at 5 p.m.

The controversy centers around the debate over the cost and efficiency of delivering freight versus the protection and preservation of the Island’s unique horse and buggy charm.

Hand-pushing freight on luggage carts, say some defenders of the ordinance, erodes the use of the traditional horse-drawn dray delivery, something visitors come to the Island to see. Many businesses, especially those in close proximity to Arnold Transit and Shepler’s docks, the two boat-lines that delivers freight from the mainland, say hand-pushing freight on luggage carts is faster, more efficient, and cheaper than dray delivery.

Getting perishable goods as early as possible, said Village Inn Restaurant owners Ron and Mary Dufina, is vital to meet demands of the customer. Shepler’s is able to deliver the restaurant’s perishable goods before 8 a.m. by delivering them on hand-pushed luggage carts, as the restaurant is only a couple of buildings up Hoban Street from the dock.

The Dufinas argue that goods to the Village Inn would not get delivered by Mackinac Island Service Company, the only freight delivery operation on the Island, until noon, during the peak hours of business, because the drays would deliver first along Main Street and return along Market Street to Hoban on their way back to the dock, with the Village Inn being one of its last stops.

Many other downtown businesses, such as Iroquois Hotel, Murray Hotel, Horn’s Gaslight Bar, and Lake View Hotel, face a similar situation.

"I’m a real supporter of horses on Mackinac Island, but not to the detriment to our perishable foods," said Becki Barnwell of the Iroquois Hotel.

After the meeting, Service Company owner Dr. Bill Chambers said the company will work this summer to improve the dray delivery system to meet the demands of its customers. The company usually has 15 to 20 drays on the street during the summer, said Dr. Chambers.

One idea is to use a smaller wagon pulled by one horse that can move and deliver perishables more quickly.

"We’re trying to anticipate the different things that could happen to make our services better," he said. "It’s hard to say what will work the best, since we don’t have the end-product (a completed ordinance) yet. All it takes is planning, better planning."

He said company porters will greet freight boats as they come in and will separate the freight to be hauled by a one-horse hitch on the spot.

One idea at the meeting that appealed to some business owners is to allow dock porters to deliver small amounts of freight by bicycle and bicycle cart.

The city has discussed allowing only residential freight to be carried by dock porters, but decided against that on the advice of city attorney Tom Evashevski, who said it would be too cumbersome to enforce.

"I have no problem with them delivering groceries or two cases of beer, for example," said Jim Pettit, ad hoc committee member and Service Company teamster. "Dock porters have been doing that for years."

The ordinance now allows dock porters to deliver luggage by bicycle or by a garden cart. Hotel dock porters can deliver luggage only to their own hotel, not to others.

The city wants to stop third party delivery, eliminating Shepler’s and Arnold Transit’s practice of delivering commercial freight on their luggage carts, for example, in part to avoid street congestion and in part to preserve the use of horses.

Some residents believe the ordinance is a ploy to run Shepler’s out of its freight business, and city officials have voiced concerns with the company’s routine of loading and unloading freight on the the street in front of its dock, creating traffic hazards. Shepler’s is suing the city over its restrictions. Mr. Evashevski contends the city is not targeting Shepler’s, and notes that the draft ordinance will impact Arnold Transit just as much.

City administrators say that residents, workers, and businesses are, and always have been, allowed to haul their own freight by a garden cart but, with approval of the new ordinance, businesses or individuals would not be allowed to deliver freight to other businesses.

During the meeting, they accepted Mr. Pettit’s definitions of commercial freight delivery, the use of luggage carts, the use of garden carts, and the city’s reserved right to license luggage carts in the future:

Commercial freight delivery: Any business whose purpose is the delivery of other people’s goods shall do so by means of horse-drawn vehicle or dock porter bicycle.

Use of luggage carts: Boat line luggage carts are allowed on city streets only when being towed by horse-drawn vehicles. Drays are allowed up to two carts, of which its contents is unrestricted. Taxis are allowed to tow one cart of luggage only; hotel shuttle carriages can tow up to two carts of luggage only. All luggage carts must remain attached to horse-drawn vehicles when on city streets except when being attached or unattached at boat docks.

Use of garden/personal carts: Individuals or businesses moving their own goods on city streets may do so using their own personal carts. Personal carts being pushed by hand or towed behind a bicycle shall be limited to a size that can be safely maneuvered by a single person. All personal carts parked downtown must be done so in a safe manner inside the white lined parking area on the sides of streets.

City’s reserved rights concerning luggage carts: The city reserves the right to license all carts used on city streets in the future if it deems it necessary.

The ordinance, said City Alderman Armand "Smi" Horn, would be enforced only when ferry boat operations are ongoing.

The city has yet to decide on allowable dimensions for a garden or personal cart on city streets.