Pat Schnur feels she cannot sit idly by while the senior citizens in her community go without a transportation service to take them to medical appointments, pharmacies, grocery stores and social activities.
‘Every person on this earth has worth,? said the 74-year-old Addison Township resident. ‘No matter who you are, you have worth. We can’t forget that. We cannot forget our seniors.?
That’s why she and her husband Joe launched a petition drive last week requesting the North Oakland Transportation Authority (NOTA) board place a millage proposal on the May 5 ballot in Addison Township.
Their hope is the millage would be approved by Addison voters and this would allow the rural township to rejoin NOTA and once again receive its services.
The deadline to submit ballot language to Oakland County is 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10.
The Schnurs are hoping to get as many signatures as they can as quickly as possible. As of Monday night, Pat said they had collected more than 100 signatures.
‘It’s going to take a big movement to do it,? Joe said.
‘Addison Township is a very close-knit community and we care about people,? Pat said.
Pat noted she’s at the senior center (1440 Rochester Rd.) in Lakeville on Tuesdays and Fridays between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. if anyone wants to stop by and sign it. Even when she’s not there, the petition will be available.
This petition is not a citizen initiative through which a certain number of signatures can legally force the NOTA question’s appearance on the May 5 ballot. It’s simply a statement of citizen support for NOTA, which the Schnurs hope will convince officials to place it on the ballot.
Based on Addison Township attorney Bob Davis? preliminary findings, it appears only the NOTA board, which no longer includes any Addison representatives, can initiate the process to place the question on the ballot by passing a resolution calling for it.
This resolution would then be forwarded to the township clerk who would in turn, submit ballot language to the county. The Addison Township Board would not have to vote on this issue as its approval is not legally required, according to Davis.
‘I think it has to originate from NOTA,? the attorney told this reporter. ?(The Schnurs are) really, at this point, petitioning NOTA to make the first move.?
A citizen petition cannot force the NOTA question back on the ballot based on Davis? current opinion.
‘If NOTA was organized under some other statute, maybe. But I don’t know,? he said.
Right now, Davis? opinion is based on the assumption that NOTA was created in 2001 under a particular state law.
Despite his best efforts to find it, he has thus far been unable to ascertain the exact statute under which the authority was formed. Davis made it clear in a Jan. 7 opinion letter that if his assumption is ‘not true,? his opinion ‘may change.?
That being said, Davis believes the Schnurs? petition is ‘not in vain.?
‘It’s wonderful because it shows community support,? he said. ‘I think it’s a good idea to provide NOTA with support as to why they’re going to try this again (if the authority board votes to do so).?
Last year, Addison voters twice failed a five-year, 0.25-mill property tax proposal that would have generated $70,000 for NOTA in order to help make up for lost federal and state funding. Addison voters rejected the millage request 557 to 531 in August and 1,257 to 1,216 in November.
‘People vote their pocketbooks,? Joe said. ?(Most people) didn’t use it, so (they figured) why should I pay for it??
Addison was informed by the NOTA board that if it couldn’t contribute $70,000, which was considered to be the township’s fair share, then the community’s residents would no longer receive any transportation services beginning in January 2015.
Addison’s last ride occurred Dec. 30.
NOTA provides low-cost publicly subsidized transportation for senior citizens (age 60 and older), permanently or temporarily disabled individuals and low-income folks. The agency charges users the nominal fee of $1 or $2 per ride (one way).
Destinations for typical NOTA riders include medical appointments, grocery stores, senior centers, church services, therapy and counseling appointments, hair appointments, employment-related training, community events and the FISH food pantry.
NOTA gave 34,184 rides in 2014, which includes 2,071 for Addison, 15,384 for Orion and 16,729 for Oxford.
The loss of NOTA in Addison is primarily impacting ‘the older people who have nothing to help themselves,? according to Joe.
‘It’s sad. It’s so sad,? Pat said.
Without NOTA, ‘seniors feel trapped in their homes,? Pat said. ‘They are forgotten souls.?
During one of their Meals on Wheels deliveries, an Addison senior shared with the couple how the loss of NOTA has affected her.
This woman paid someone $20 to take her to the grocery store, so she could purchase $7 worth of items, according to the Schnurs.
‘That was an expensive trip for her,? Pat said. ‘It just broke my heart. She’s trapped in that house. She’s losing her vision. Her husband passed away six months ago.?
NOTA was ‘the only way she had to get around,? said Joe, and now it’s gone. ‘That’s sad,? he said. ‘She was heartbroken.?
In addition to the petition, the Schnurs have been doing what they can to help those without a ride. Twice a week, they drive Eleanor Hamilton, a 94-year-old Leonard resident, to the senior center in Lakeville.
‘We do what we can and we’ll do more if we can,? Joe said. ‘But that’s not the solution. It has to be NOTA doing that job. There’s nothing else.?