Island Looks at Motor Vehicle Permit Policy

Mackinac Island is taking a closer look at its motor vehicle permit policy because City Council members want to tighten regulationst. Street Committee members met Tuesday, September 13, to begin the review of the permit policy and when they are done, they will present their recommendation to Council.

City Attorney Tom Evashevski provided members with a draft on motor vehicle permit standards, which the committee will review and discuss at the next meeting. The draft document places permits in three categories, short-term, seasonal, and annual. Meeting the key specification to get one of those permits is having “no other reasonable way to perform the task for which the motor vehicle is proposed to be used,” reads the draft document.

A short-term permit would not allow the vehicle on the Island for more than 30 days.

A seasonal permit would include lawn tractors used for grounds maintenance, which must weigh less than 1,000 pounds. Golf carts would be allowed for golf course activities, and snow removal equipment would be covered under a seasonal permit.

An annual motor vehicle permit allows emergency and utility vehicles, and equipment used on freight docks and at larger hotels.

The next meeting of the committee was scheduled for Thursday, October 6.